WDRFC felt very hard done by after a controversial defeat away to local rivals Cumbernauld. The Boys in Navy & Gold took their foot off the gas from their last gutsy performance against Cambuslang, and allowed a very average Cumbernauld team drag them down to their level.
We had a really good warm up and there was a good buzz in the team, the game started promisingly with WD making a better start than they have done all season. WD were unlucky not to open the scoring when Stand Off Gordon Milne sent a lovely kick wide and over the shallow Cumbernauld defence, Greig Walker charged on to the ball but could not get to it in time and the ball bounced out of play.
Cumbernauld answered well and with the wind behind them, were able to kick the ball back into the WD half. Silly play from WD saw multiple penalties gave away, and after hitting the posts from his first kick, the Cumbernauld 10 took the first points on his secondly attempt at goal. Cumbernauld also scored the first try, with their No.8 picking the ball up from a scrum (which WD were convinced had turned through 90degrees) and charged over the line. With the conversion added the score sat at 10-0 in favour of the home team.
At this stage WD began to use their forwards to make ground and two great catch and drives saw the Cumbernauld forwards crumble under the pressure and WD charged about 40 yards deep into the home sides half . Eventually this pressure led to a try when strong carries in midfield were followed by a rapid switch in the direction of play that exposed the home side’s defence, a move straight from the WD training ground which Coach Collin was extremely happy with. Vann smith collected the ball from Midnight Gibson, and touched down in the corner, Smith’s second try in as many starts for WD. The conversion was unsuccessful and with another two penalties from Cumbernauld saw the home side with a narrow lead of 16-5 at half time.
WD again started strongly and put Cumbernauld under pressure from the restart, a high drop kick, which was well chased from WD, was fumbled by Cumbernauld and the ball then bounced out of play. WD kept the ball and pushed though phase after phase of good play. Cumbernauld defended well, until a lovely angled chip from Scrum half Tony Campbell allowed William Frame to swallow dive on the ball and score a great team try. With the conversion slotted over the score was 16-12.
Fresh Legs for Cumbernauld helped them gain yards into the WD half and after kicking for touch, the referee injured himself while following play. With an injury to his groin, the referee was given treatment form the Cumbernauld physio and decided he was well enough to continue. This decision would prove fatal for WD, if the referee admitted he would not be able to see the game out at this time, the score would not stand and the game would have needed to be replayed.
The referee was clearly struggling to get around the park and this allowed Cumbernauld to score a controversial try, with the referee un-fit to keep up with play, a forward pass and knock-on went unseen and Cumbernauld were able to cross the line. And when the referee couldn’t make it back to half way for the restart, he blew for full time at 70mins. This left WD with a loss but without a bonus point.
Disappointment for WD who were out looking for their first win of the season, and most likely would have got it if the last 20 minutes of the game had been played and referee'd properly.

This weekend WDRFC are at home to other local rivals Uddingston, with anything less than a win unacceptable at this stage of the season. Kick off 3pm at WDRFC.