RUGBY EK ARE TABLE TOPPERS
Job done as 1st XV ease past Garnock
East Kilbride Rugby Club made it four from four on Saturday with a hard fought win over a pretty accomplished Garnock side to move top of the table, one point better off than Newton Stewart.
A mix of holidays and minor knocks saw coach Fraser Watt test the new found depth of his squad by making a number of changes from last week’s win at Carrick.
The front row rotation policy saw Chris McLellan take a seat on the bench in favour of Robbie Jaap, while both of last week’s starting flankers, Alan Steel and Chris O’Neil, took a breather allowing Graeme Blackwood and Roddy Beaton to don their jumpers.
Changes in the backs saw two of last season’s under-18s, Lewis McFie and James McKinnon, step up, the former making his first team debut.
Garnock came into the game with two wins from three and were always likely to provide a hefty challenge to their unbeaten hosts and so it proved.
Tries from Roddy Beaton (2), Aidan Stott and McLellan – against two from the Ayrshire club – saw EK home without ever looking completely comfortable.
The scrummage was completely dominant, sufficiently so that one or two of the retired props among the spectators felt that the referee could have penalised Garnock as they sought to reduce the advantage.
While there were no suggestions that East Kilbride took too much for granted in anticipation of a reasonably gentle workout, there were indications that the intensity marking last week’s outing had dropped a level.
Despite this, and while more mistakes were made than across the first three games combined, there was a huge feeling of positivity on the afternoon.
East Kilbride are playing without fear, not something that can necessarily be said of opponents these days as they scan the horizon awaiting the next big hit from outstanding EK captain Paul Rosie, who is most definitely setting the physical tone for the side.
Another home game beckons this Saturday when Annan head to Torrance House. Kick-off is 3pm.
TEAM: 1. Jaap, 2. Anderson, 3. E. Beaton, 4. Rosie (captain), 5. Dalgleish, 6. G. Blackwood, 7. R. Beaton, 8. Middleton, 9. Stott, 10. B. Blackwood, 11. C. Ferguson Snr, 12. Shankie, 13. Green, 14. McFie, 15. McKinnon.
Replacements: McLellan, S. Ferguson, Hughes and N. O’Neil.