Rugby lads ease past sorry Irvine
EAST KILBRIDE ............................. 48
IRVINE ............................................... 5
East Kilbride Rugby Club put Irvine away on Saturday in a one-sided encounter at a gloomy Torrance House Arena.
Conditions were heavy underfoot and no more pleasant above ground, but EK put on a show of enterprising running rugby to demolish the Ayrshire side.
Coach Allan Steel took the opportunity to rest a few of his bigger bodies in the front five, confident that Irvine were unlikely to have improved sufficiently to turn around EK’s 56-19 win at Marress in October.
Eighteen-year-old props Ali Marriot and Ryan Mason came in, with the slightly older Ben McLean packing down behind them.
There was no loss of power at the set-piece though and EK more than held their own against a much, much heavier Irvine pack.
It was clear from the sidelines that the visitor’s ‘old-fashioned’ looking set of forwards were unlikely to have mobility in their locker or be fit enough to last 80 minutes at full gas, and so it proved.
With the home forwards scooting about at levels Irvine could only imagine and a slick moving backline, the only surprise was that EK did not run in more than the eight tries they did.
Ian Brown had a hat-trick by the end of the first quarter, while Roddy Beaton (2), Aidan Stott (2) and Evan Middleton also crossed.
The EK backline looked a different proposition with James McKinnon at stand-off. The youngster has spent the past couple of seasons plying his trade two divisions above with Glasgow High-Kelvinside, and his ability to hit the long ball off either hand gives Shankie and Stott outside room to work with.
Additionally, McKinnon challenges the defensive line by taking the ball flat, which again takes the pressure off those running off him.
Nobody was getting carried away after the game as Irvine sit bottom of the table for a reason.
However, there was much for Steel to be pleased about in the performance, particularly given the conditions and the limited work on the training pitch the side have been able to get of late due to incessant rain.
This Saturday East Kilbride visit another struggling side, local rivals Cambuslang, with the bonus point win critical to maintain interest in the promotion race.
Kick-off at Coats Park is scheduled for 2pm.
TEAM: 1. Marriott, 2. E. Beaton, 3. Mason, 4. Irvine, 5. McLean, 6. O’Neill, 7. R. Beaton, 8. Middleton, 9. Ellison, 10. McKinnon, 11. Dryburgh, 12. Shankie, 13. Stott, 14. I. Brown, 15. Greenfield.
Replacements: Mclellan, Rosie, Murray and Haggerty.
• Meanwhile, the only junior side to see mud over the weekend were the under-15’s, who travelled the short distance to Hamilton on cup duty and came home with an impressive win under their belts.
The 31-17 victory was even sweeter as they were without halfa-dozen front line players through injury.
There were tries for Mark Neilson (2), Robert Calderwood, captain Carlos Orenes and Kerr McLaughlin, who added the remaining points with his boot.