Out of danger zone after crucial victory
CAMBUSLANG ...................................... 17 STRATHENDRICK ................................. 21
Strathendrick went into the match with Cambuslang sitting in bottom spot of Tennent’s West Region Division 1, knowing a win was vital to boost their chances of remaining in the top league.
The league has proven to be one of the most competitive divisions in Scottish rugby over the past two seasons and before the turn of the year, Endrick, despite anchoring the league, only went down 6-5 to Stewarty (second in the league) and 16-10 against Lenzie (fifth), demonstrating they are capable when they are fit and willing.
Injuries and unavailability have played havoc with selection this term and things didn’t look promising when, after clearing their own lines, the opposition No 6 gathered the ball and ran through the Endrick defence to score the first try which was converted.
A Kyle Campbell penalty reduced the leeway and shortly after, they took the lead when Aron Kvarnstrom jumped on to a loose ball that escaped the scrum. The ball moved from right to left with good carries from Conor Gibson, Michael O’Connell and Quentin Taquet freeing up Duncan MacEachearn to go over near the posts.
The conversion was missed by Campbell but he had better luck after No 8 James Ogilvy touched over following a five-metre scrum and then he added three more to give Endrick an 18-7 lead.
Cambuslang hit back with a try but another Campbell penalty saw Endrick go into the break leading 21-12.
The second half was pretty even for 10 minutes until the 50 th minute when a Cambuslang player was sin-binned for dangerous tackling reducing them to 14 men. Both sides traded attacks until the Cambuslang No 12 kicked a grubber through for their winger to collect and go over for an unconverted try.
The home side continued their assault on the Endrick try line, driving over in the 66th minute, but judged to have been held up by Endrick captain Angus North.
The game continued on an even keel until the last five minutes at which point Endrick were camped five metres from the Cambuslang touchline. After a barrage of attacks, they went over but adjudged to have been held up.
Both sides had frantic attacks with play moving from one side of the pitch to the other. Cambuslang had a final attack but were stripped of the ball by Ogilvy who ran half the length of the pitch to relieve the pressure and Endrick held on to win.
The win moves them up two places to eighth with two games in hand on the teams below them .
On Saturday, they welcome league leaders Kilmarnock to Fintry, kick off 2pm.
• Endrick 2nds XV stay in second place in West Region Reserve League Division 3 after a 19-7 win at Greenock Wanderers.
With seven wins and a draw from 12, Endrick are enjoying resurgence as a club with a pool of more than 60 2nd
XV players ready to pull on their boots.
Throughout the game Endrick’s front five were dominant giving the team ample possession.
Due to injury, Endrick played the last 40 minutes with only 14 men but still came out on top. There were tries for Martin Fisher, Anthony Eckersley and James Wray and two conversions by Ryan Davis. Man of the Match was Martin Fisher.
They meet Clydebank at home on Saturday, kick-off 2pm.