Doyle injury casts shadow over win
Scrum half carried off with broken ankle
Endrick’s Tennent West Regional League Division 1 season got off to a flyer on Saturday.
But the satisfaction of the big win was somewhat abated when it was confirmed that scrum half Ruaraidh Doyle, who was carried off with an injury midway through the game, had sustained a broken ankle.
Colleagues and supporters wish him well and hope to see him fit and well as soon as possible.
The sides seemed well matched in the opening exchanges but Endrick put the first points on the board with a try by Duncan McEachern.
Strathendrick .. 59 Stewartry .. 7
Sam Greenock’s kick drifted wide but he had better luck converting scores by Andy Nixon and Ben Anderson to give his side a healthy 19-0 lead.
Stewartry hit back with a converted try but before the halftime oranges were served tries by Duncan McEachern and Angus North gave them the bonus points and Greenock added the extras for good measure and a 33-7 lead.
Doyle’s injury forced them to make changes, which included the introduction of veteran Ewan MacKay.
On the hour mark North scored his second try before MacKay added two more. Alistair Campbell Birkett wound up the show with the ninth and final try and Greenock took his tally of conversions to seven from nine.
Endrick: Whyte; McEachern, North, Campbell Birkett, Anderson; Greenock, Doyle; O’Connell, Gibson, Scott, Calderwood, Taquet, Nixon, Duff and Ogilvy. Replacements: MacKay, Eckersley and Willison.
On Saturday Endrick are away to Allan Glens in a league match. The kick-off is at 3pm.
The seconds were in Tennent West Reserve League Division 2 action against Lenzie 2nds.
Both had to scout around to find players and the visitors could raise only 14. Endrick fielded several players who made their first team debuts more than 30 years ago.
Short-handed Lenzie had the first try of the game and also the last. They managed another in between but Endrick scored seven for a convincing 46-17 win.
Early in the game Lenzie lost a player through injury and Endrick withdrew two of their players to balance the numbers, a gesture which greatly impressed the visitors.
On Saturday they are away to Uddingston in the league, ko 3pm.