It was the first time Cumnock's first team had taken to the field since November 3 and they were hoping to keep up the momentum of an early season run which had put them top of the table unbeaten.
Standing in the way however, was a Strathclyde Police team who, despite losing more games than they have won, have only ever been beaten by very narrow margins.
The Police team showed they were there for a match when they recycled the ball for several phases straight off kick-off but tough tackling from Cumnock eventually turned the ball over. A long clearing kick forced the Police to turn and cover but a good chase from Jayson McMillan and Findlay Hamilton won a penalty for their side.
A quick tap penalty released Rab Donald who powered down the touch line and managed to scramble the ball over the line for the opening score.
The Police came back at Cumnock after this early break-through afforded too much time to control possession by the defence. The Police scrum half broke but was hauled down close to the line and it looked certain they would find an equalising score. One drive from their forwards was well held up by the home side but a second attempt moments later was judged to have been grounded by the referee despite the best efforts of Blair McMillan.
This spurred Cumnock back into action and they set their driving maul, which has proved a dangerous weapon this season to work. One powerful shove got the momentum going before Graham Montgomery broke off and drew in the defence and popped the ball to captain Campbell Reid who powered over.
This was enough to give Cumnock the lead going into half-time despite a slightly disjointed first half performance which showed the rustiness of their unplanned eight week lay off.
However, the second half showed that they were starting to shed the cobwebs with some powerful ball carrying married with tough defence, led as always by flanker Jamie Thomson who made a number of crunching hits.
The Police had a good spell in possession close to the Cumnock line but they never really looked like piercing the red and black wall.
Cumnock then got back on the attack and good work by front-rows Donald Hunter and paul miller carried them close to the line before Gregor McMillan popped the ball off to David Kerr who was left with a simple finish in the corner.
The Police had another opportunity to get back on the scoreboard after a break from inside their own half but it was another tough tackling Thomson who stopped the move, this time Martin clattering the attacking winger into touch.
No one had managed to take a winning bonus point off the Police all season but Cumnock managed to secure a potentially vital point late on after the opposition flanker was sin-binned for repeat offending and the Broomfield side launched another driving maul.
Montgomery again timed the break perfectly and this time didn't need support as he powered over to put the icing on hard fought win.
After the match, Cumnock coach Stevie Miller said: “We knew the Police were going to be one of the hardest games of the season and so it proved here.
“I'm delighted to get the bonus point, we had to work harder than we have done all season to get it and it could be so important later on in the season.”

Team: Montgomery, Miller, Hunter, B.McMillan, Fulton, J.Thomson, Kerr, Reid, Berrett, Smith, G.McMillan, Donald, J.McMillan, Hamilton, M.Thomson.
Bench: Gibbs, Hodge, McGeary, Robb, Gilbert.