East Kilbride (EK) entered this home game against Irvine keen to put the disappointment of the previous week’s loss at Allan Glen’s behind them. Coach, Allan Steele, had made a few changes coming into this game. Young props, Alistair Marriott and Ryan Mason came into the front row and Ben McLean started in the boiler house. Experienced players, Paul Rosie, Richie Murray, Gregor Haggerty and Chris McLellan occupied the replacement bench ready to join the fray if, and when required.
Irvine took the ball from the kick-off and though they retained possession during the opening few minutes they did not make a great deal of ground. With the ball turned over to EK the assault on the Irvine line was immediate and rewarded five minutes into the game when the powerful, but lighter EK pack drove the visitors over their own line for Evan Middleton to claim the touch down. Scott Shankie’s conversion attempt sailed wide as did his attempt to convert EK’s second try claimed 6 minutes later when, following some good handling by the back-division Ian Brown ran powerfully to touch down in the left corner. At this stage Irvine launched an assault on the EK line and with the home side conceding a succession of penalties it was Irvine’s turn to add to the day’s points total when, 19 minutes into the game, their bulky no. 5 crashed over following a line out on the EK five metre line. EK did not waste time getting back on top with two more Ian Brown tries 28 and 37 minutes into the game. The first of these was quite similar to his earlier try, a strong rune down the left wing to score in the corner. The second was claimed as he ghosted from his post on the left wing to create an overlap and score in the right corner. Having, most uncharacteristically, missed with his first three conversion attempts Scott Shankie succeeded with what was probably the most difficult of the day. With the bonus point secured EK continued to add to their tally for the day. A Grant Dryburgh kick ahead was fielded by the opposition full back who was put under immediate pressure by Grant. The ball was spilled and Grant, with two players in support hacked the ball on. From here the play resembled something more akin to the round ball game and with the ball spinning infield and coming to rest in the Irvine in-goal area Aiden Stott claimed his first try of the day. Scott Shankie’s conversion brought the half to a close and gave EK a comfortable lead; 29-5.
EK took 10 minutes to add to their first half scores. Their opening try of the half came when an Aiden Stott break gave Roddy Beaton his first try. Grant Dryburgh added the points to extend the EK lead. 10 minutes later Roddy Beaton added to his tally when backing up a neat break from James MacKinnon. Grant Dryburgh’s attempted conversion flew high and short of the mark – reminding golfers of those occasions when attempts to pitch on to the green fall short! The scoring was rounded off when a couple of lofty punts from the boots of Grant Dryburgh and Aiden Stott put pressure on the Irvine defence and with 63 minutes on the clock Aiden capitalised with his second try of the day. Grant’s conversion attempt was struck more sweetly than the previous and with two points added the score came to EK 48, Irvine 5. The game, however, was far from over. EK failed to field the kick-off and as both the touch judge and referee agreed that the ball had touched an EK hand on the way to the touch line Irvine were awarded a line-out five metres from the EK line. This established a platform from which Irvine launched attack after attack with all attempts stalled by sound EK defence. With time running out and with the physios being the busiest people on the field the game ground to a halt with EK clear 48-5 winners.
This was the result that EK needed to get their show back on the road. Younger players coming in from the start showed up well. The Irvine pack was heavier than EK’s but technique won out as, with the exception of one engagement, EK dominated this phase of the proceedings. James MacKinnon, in his second game since returning to EK, showed up well. His length of pass created space for the backs outside him and his running with ball in hand asked questions of the opposition defence. Roddy Beaton claimed two tries by doing what a good back row forward does and being on hand to finish off a good move from the back division. Evan Middleton and Christopher (Tophie) O’Neill carried well making useful incursions into opposition territory and the back division handled confidently. On the negative side EK gave away too many penalties perhaps because they were slow to reach an understanding of what the referee would and would not allow. Their failure to secure the ball when Irvine kicked off after the final try could have been more costly and would have been against stronger opposition. Perhaps, having 48 points on the board they relaxed but this is really something they cannot afford to do.
Player of the match. For his three tries and, in particular, the way in which he took the third of these, Ian Brown is this week’s player of the match.
EK travel to local rivals, Cambuslang, next Saturday. Cambuslang are struggling, one place off the bottom of the division, so while the relationship between our clubs is friendly EK will be looking for another victory with a try bonus point.
Team: Marriot, E. Beaton, Mason, Irvine, McLean, O’Neill, R. Beaton and Middleton. Ellison and MacKinnon. Brown, Shankie, Stott, Dryburgh and Greenfield.
Replacements: Rosie, Murray, McLellan and Haggerty.