Last Saturday Kilmarnock played Clydebank at Whitecrook park in a repeat of the fixture of last season. The scoreline was exactly the same with Kilmarnock winning 11-10 but perhaps slightly more convincingly.

The teams shared possession and battled for fifteen minutes before a penalty by Kilmarnock’s stand-off Ally McWhirter opened the scoring

3-0 to the visitors. The home pack soon ventured into Kilmarnock territory and from a five metre scrum Connor Turnbull’s clearance kick was knocked on by Clydebank to relieve the pressure. Both forward packs made turnover ball and penalties were exchanged outwith kicking distance. The home side then mounted a number of attacks favouring the catch and drive from lineouts but were repelled by the Kilmarnock defence. The Kilmarnock backline were caught offside and the home stand-off levelled the score with a penalty on the half hour mark 3-3.

Kilmarnock won a scrum from the restart and two backline moves followed, David Smith was caught on the line when a pass would have realized a try. A penalty followed, the lineout was won by John Brown and the backs released, Callum Smith broke and passed to Ally McWhirter who raced in for an unconverted try just before half –time. Score 8-3 to Kilmarnock.

The second half resumed and the battle continued with Clydebank winning a number of penalties to put Kilmarnock under territorial pressure. Niall Murphy replaced Taylor McHarg in the second row and Cammy Allison replaced Tam McMichael at prop for Kilmarnock.

Another penalty saw Clydebank kick to the Kilmarnock 22 area. The lineout was won and the big burly home pack powered over the goal line for a converted try. Clydebank take the lead 10-8 after ten minutes.

Kilmarnock responded and the forwards and won a lineout as the Clydebank open side wing forward was yellow carded for entering the ruck from the side. Kilmarnock opted for a kick to the corner in lieu of a kick at goal and promptly lost the lineout, the clearance kick was taken by Ciaran Frater and the backs were in action but turned over by the opposition who kicked ahead. A scrum to the home side saw their number eight pick up and the scrum half punted the ball high in the air, Kilmarnock were caught in possession but the ball was moved from Connor Turnbull to Andrew Paxton who surged forward and won a penalty for offside. A second penalty and another yellow card saw Clydebank reduced to thirteen men. The kick in front of the posts was refused as was the scrum and a tap and go saw Kilmarnock win another penalty, the tap and go resulted in a chip kick ahead which went dead for a drop out 22 to Clydebank. The long drop out was fielded and Kilmarnock made another attack which faltered with a penalty to Clydebank. From the lineout the home side kicked possession away and Kilmarnock moved upfield with a Turbull attack. Clydebank were back to fourteen in number but soon gave away a penalty and Ally McWhirter slotted home the 38metre kick to restore the Kilmarnock lead 11-10 with thirteen minutes to go.

John Brown was replaced by Ian Thomson but soon returned in place of Niall Murphy.

Clydebank won a penalty at the restart but the kick at goal was missed and from the long drop out kick the home side conceded a penalty and were lucky to escape a yellow card. Kilmarnock moved into 22 territory and were awarded a penalty much to the protest of the home crowd after a Kilmarnock misdemeanour went unnoticed by the referee. Taylor McHarg replaced Cammy Alison for the next scrum but Kilmarnock gave away a free kick for pushing early. Allison returned as Tam McMichael suffered a leg injury. Kilmarnock pressed for another score but lost their own lineout in the opposition 22 area and Clydebank moved upfield won another lineout with one minute remaining.

Their final attack broke down and the last scrum to Kilmarnock saw Turnbull break blind on the stroke of full time.

Clydebank 10 --- Kilmarnock 11.

Coach Gareth Rowlands stated it was never going to be easy, there was indiscipline but a concerted effort was made which

coach Andy Lees echoed stating that improvement must be made at training with a full squad of players.

Kilmarnock Rugby Football Club

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