REVENGE IS SWEET FOR LEAGUE LEADERS
Senior side stay top, as juniors claim tourney title
A thoroughly decent day at the office on Saturday saw East Kilbride Rugby Club exact their revenge for an early season cup defeat at Strathendrick.
The mood improved further when news of league leaders Greenock slipping up at Garnock got through, the combination of results leaving EK top of the table.
The major selection change arose from a dearth of front row options which resulted in Alex Irvine replacing the holidaying Bill Anderson at hooker, his first flirtation with the dark zone since primary school rugby.
The Fintry side were well worth their cup win over EK back in August but, like many clubs built around the farming community, have struggled for numbers on and off since. Saturday though was the first occasion all season they had been able to field their strongest side on league duty.
The first half mirrored the cup encounter, EK becoming sucked into the forward-dominated pattern of play their hosts favoured.
Again, similar to the cup game, there were a number of petty spats which disrupted the rhythm of how EK sought to play. While the visitors led 7-6 at the half, Roddy Beaton scoring, they were far from comfortable.
The second period saw a far more clinical EK, in part because Strathendrick tired, but more because EK started imposing their style of play. Further tries went to Mark Ellison, Chris McLellan and Grant Dryburgh, and in truth, there should probably have been more.
While EK looked good with ball in hand, player-coach Allan Steel was probably happiest at the defensive effort his side put in. Tackling was outstanding throughout and success here meant that East Kilbride could dominate the breakdown area.
This Saturday EK travel to Irvine, kick-off 3pm.
TEAM: 1. McClinton, 2. Irvine, 3. Mclellan, 4. Dalgleish, 5. Rosie, 6. O’Neill, 7. R. Beaton, 8. Steel, 9. Ellison, 10. Murray, 11. Haggerty, 12. Greenfield, 13. Stott, 14. L. Brown, 15. Dryburgh. Replacements: E. Beaton, Mason, McLean and Stewart.
• Meanwhile, the October school week saw junior participation massively reduced and it was only the parents of the P1-3s who were able to claim respite care, the squad travelling to Linlithgow for what turned out to be a very successful day.
Back-to-back victories over their hosts’ A and B units started proceedings; Sam Bradley, Max McQueen and Joseph Quinn dominating the scoring.
This set EK up for what looked like a tough assignment with Edinburgh Academy. In truth though, and despite the city side clearly being well drilled, they lacked the pace and ferocity of their opponents, EK winning comfortably with Josh Wynn and Tristan Greig scoring.
Opponents in the final were a similarly unbeaten Gala, but it was the Borderers who went home emptyhanded, Alistair Longmire and Jamie Gregg touching down to claim the title for EK.