Silver Saturday Preview: Men’s Shield final: Cumnock v Moray

Cumnock RFC were runners up in the Bowl in 2015.

Cumnock sit fourth in West Region League Division 1, with seven wins from their 18 games.

In the Shield, they started with a 24-20 away win against Waysiders/Drumpellier in round one.

They then hosted Annan in round two, beating them 43-18, and Cambuslang in round three, who they defeated 46-19.

A tight 18-15 away win against Oban Lorne in the quarter-final followed, and their semi-final was even tighter. Winning 29-28 away to Broughton secured Cumnock their spot at Silver Saturday for the first time since 2015, when they were beaten by Alloa in the National Bowl.

 Head Coach Stephen Raby said: “Everyone at the club is super excited to watch our squad go out on Saturday and represent Cumnock Rugby Club.

“It’s been a tough season with long term injuries to several of our key players but the entire squad has been brilliant in the Shield run. Saturday is a chance for us to showcase all our hard work and do what we do in front of a big Cumnock support.”

Captain Jason McMillan added: It’s a dream come true to reach the final. Winning would be special for everyone involved with the club.

“This group works incredibly hard for each other and that’s what we intend to show on Saturday, working hard for our mates and playing our game.”

Cumnock RFC were runners up in the Bowl in 2015.

As for Moray, they topped the north conference of Caledonia Region League Division 1, and face Panmure in the play-off round on Saturday 4 May.

They advanced to round two in the Shield after first round opponents Aberdeen Wanderers withdrew, and beat Aberdeenshire 45-19 to advance to round three.

There they faced Grangemouth Stags, narrowly winning 24-23 away from home, before beating Ardrossan Academicals 22-20 in the quarter-final.

That took Moray to the semi-final, where a high-scoring game saw them get the win 39-37 against Linlithgow to advance to the final.

Captain Lewis Scott said: “I think I speak of behalf of the whole Moray Rugby Club when I say just how excited we are to have this opportunity to play for the National Shield.

“We have played some of the best teams to reach this stage, and come Saturday we will get to showcase our rugby in front of family and friends at a professional stadium.”

Head Coach Cameron Hughes added: “We are really excited for the final this weekend. It’s the first time as a club we’ve reached a national final at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, and we just can’t wait to get stuck in.

“The joys of national competitions are that you don’t come across these teams in the league, so you just have to focus on yourself and make sure you’re going out there and playing the rugby you know you can play.

“It’s been a tough battle for us getting here with last-gasp wins against Grangemouth, Ardrossan and Linlithgow. We know Cumnock are going to be just as excited as we are, and we can’t wait for a cracking game of rugby.”

To view the Cumnock team, click HERE.

To view the Moray team, click HERE.

On the day

Gates will open at 10am for spectators, with a range of food and drink options available throughout the day. 

You can view up-to-date fixtures and results on the day HERE. 

Ticketing

The ticketing portal is now live. You will receive your tickets through Scottish Rugby’s ticketing app. If you have not already, you can download the app here. 

Finalist rugby clubs can earn commission on Silver Saturday 2024 match tickets if purchased through the club’s unique URL. If you want to support your rugby club in this way, please ensure you use the URL of the club you wish to support. 

Once you click on the link, you’ll be taken to the Scottish Rugby Online Ticket Centre to make your purchase in the standard way. Club URLs can be found here. 

Media accreditation 

Accreditation for media outlets and club photographers/videographers will close on Friday 26 April at 5pm. You will be refused entry if you are not properly accredited. Click here to be taken to the accreditation portal.