LOMOND and Helensburgh’s senior XV saw their hopes of a winning start to their West Region Division Two campaign thwarted by Cumbernauld on Saturday.

With both sides having made the step up from Division Three after winning promotion last season, a close game was anticipated at Auchenkilns - and though Ian Fulton’s try and a conversion and penalty by Warren Smith had the visitors level at the break, Cumbernauld prevailed in the second half to chalk up a 20-10 win.

Burgh return to Ardencaple this Saturday, September 9, for their first home match of the new league season against a Bishopton side who made an impressive start to their own campaign last weekend with a 77-11 win at home to Paisley. Kick-off at Ardencaple on Saturday is at 3pm.

Meanwhile, club stalwart Ian MacQuire has agreed to take on the role of manager of the new Lomond-Helensburgh second XV, who begin their season at home to Cartha Queens Park’s second team on Saturday, September 16.

The two clubs are on the lookout for new players to bolster their squad for the campaign and Ian, who has managed Helensburgh’s second XV to league title glory in the past, will be holding a 2XV meeting in the clubhouse at Ardencaple this Saturday at 1.30pm, prior to the first team’s match against Bishopton, for all those who are interested in finding out more about joining the squad and what lies in store in the season ahead.