EK RFC PILE ON MISERY FOR STEWARTRY
Torrance House boys power their way to victory
An outstanding team performance saw East Kilbride RFC run in eight tries at Stewartry to continue their 2018 resurgence.
Since leaving the old year, East Kilbride have won six from seven, losing only at league leaders Carrick, and topped the 40-point mark in five of those encounters.
Castle Douglas in a snowstorm is not the bonniest place to play rugby and East Kilbride faced the elements in the first period after their long journey down the M74.
With their forwards dominant, East Kilbride opted for the power game, the pack rumbling forward and using their heavy-hitting midfield of Calum Simpson and Robbie Greenfield to emphasise their intent at Greenlaw.
Stewartry were keen to put boot to ball to secure field position but deprived of possession by East Kilbride’s control up front, they were forced to defend for 40 minutes.
East Kilbride crossed twice, Aidan Stott and Alex Irvine going over, one score brilliantly converted by Ethan Aitken into the teeth of the gale, and the game was all but done by the time the port and oranges came out.
This was as good a 40 minutes as East Kilbride have shown all season, exerting complete control throughout with mistakes at a minimum despite the appalling conditions.
Anticipating an aerial bombardment as soon as East Kilbride had the wind at their backs, the home side sat deep defensively, only to be confounded by the Lanarkshire men continuing to play with ball in hand.
With the forwards still running hard and the steady distribution of half-backs Stott and Richard Murray, East Kilbride put on a different, but no less impressive, show in the second half.
There were further tries for Stott, a brace for Roddy Beaton, one for his big brother Eddie, from Craig Ferguson and for Grant Dryburgh with his first touch in the senior XV.
East Kilbride were totally dominant from start to finish as they notched up their 11th league win of the campaign.
The pack were outstanding, delivering a physicality that the Blacks were unable to cope with in their own backyard.
While all played a part, it is worth mentioning the destruction that Paul Rosie wrought with ball in hand while Connor Wilson, despite still being at school, played a similar role on the few occasions that the opposition had possession.
The backs mixed things up well – running straight and hard all afternoon – while spinning the ball wide with a frequency which made light of the horrendous conditions.
Although East Kilbride are out of the promotion race, they will still have a major say in who goes up.
That’s because all three teams who are above them have to come to Torrance House before the end of the season.
This Saturday, East Kilbride take the shortest of trips down to Coats Park for a date with Cambuslang who are currently in 10th place in the table.
In terms of the promotion race, leaders Carrick are seven points clear of Allan Glen’s in second spot while Garnock are a further five points behind in third. Teamsheet: 1, McLellan; 2, Anderson; 3, E. Beaton (c); 4, Irvine; 5, Rosie; 6, Wilson; 7, R. Beaton; 8, Shankie; 9, Stott; 10, Murray; 11, E. Aitken; 12, Greenfield; 13, Simpson; 14, Ferguson; 15, Ellison. Replacements: Hastie, G Blackwood and Dryburgh. RESULTS for Saturday, March 17: Allan Glen’s 41 Greenock 5; Annan 17 Carrick 28; Garnock 38 Irvine 5; Stewartry 0 East Kilbride 48. FIXTURES for Saturday, March 24: Cambuslang v East Kilbride, Carrick v Oban Lorne, Garnock v Allan Glen’s, Greenock v Stewartry, Helensburgh v Annan, Kilmarnock v Irvine.