With over ten regular players unavailable due to holidays and T in the Park, the trip through to Corstorphine proved tough for the Tigers. For three players it was their first ever game of rugby league, and it was straight in at the deep end, as a clash with current Scottish Champions Edinburgh Eagles faced them. The Tigers knew the Eagles would be up for this one, as apart from the fact a Grand Final place was at stake, the Tigers had gave them their toughest encounter of the season on the opening day of the league at Bellshill Academy.

The game opened fiercely, with big hits a plenty flying in from both sides, but no real gains were made by either side in attack. The Eagles rugby league experience soon started to show, and the Tigers inexperienced defence was soon being carved open by the slick Eagles back line. Although the Eagles racked up a few scores in succession, it was not a fair reflection of possession and general play, with simply a few unforced errors and a bit of naivety from the Tigers pathing a route to their own try line for the Eagles to follow.

The Tigers did manage to pull one back around the 30 minute mark, with a great score from Lewis Matheson, which was well converted by Stevie Paton. The rest of the first half passed with relative inaction, with both sides defence reigning supreme.

Half Time - Carluke Tigers 6 Edinburgh Eagles 24

At the start of the second half the Tigers sensed the game was far from over, and came out all guns blazing. The Eagles had similar ideas however, and had a real go at it themselves, and once again their rugby league tactical nous let them edge the battle in the scoring stakes.

The Tigers scored midway through the second half with a great score under the posts by Kyle Matheson, again converted by Paton. Ross McAuley then engineered a great opening for himself to score in the corner, a try which he then dully converted himself from the far touchline. Around this point a bit of a fracas broke out as tempers heated, which resulted in Tigers prop Nico Nyemba being sent to the sin bin along with the Eagles prop John Cox.

Full Time - Carluke Tigers 18 Edinburgh Eagles 42

Carluke Tigers; A. Lynch, F. McKenzie, S. Paton, J. McAuley, K. Matheson, R. McAuley, J. Hillis, M. Martin, L. Matheson, N. Nyemba, S. Findlay, G. Ferguson, G. Sloan.
Subs; J. Pringle, W. Stack, R. Bryan, R. Johnston.
Man of the match; Ross McAuley.

In the end the score and performance were disappointing, but baring in mind the players missing and the subsequent inexperience of several members of the starting line up, it would have took something truly special to get a result against such high caliber opposition.

The Tigers do get a second bite at the cherry due to their final league position, with a second play-off next Saturday against Fife Lions, with the winner progressing to the Grand Final to face Edinburgh, and the loser going into the Plate Final to face Paisley Hurricanes. The match will kick-off at 2.30 PM at Hamilton Palace Sports Ground; all support would be welcome and very much appreciated. For further info email thetigers@live.co.uk