Try romp gives EK perfect start to year
Leaders demolish Dalziel to stay clear at the top
EAST KILBRIDE ................................ 73 DALZIEL ............................................ 27 RICHARD BEATON
East Kilbride matched the return of their three promotion rivals on Saturday with an 11-try demolition of Dalziel, thereby maintaining their position at the top of the table.
As prior to Saturday’s encounter, EK are vulnerable in that the three G’s – Greenock, Garnock and Glens – can all overtake them if they win their games in hand. However, there is an awful lot to be said for points in the bank as opposed to those still to be earned.
Unsurprisingly given the time of year there was a degree of fragility about the EK performance and a better side than Dalziel may well have made the afternoon’s work more difficult.
However, the Motherwell club are not bottom of the league without reason.
In truth, the only times they were really able to offer a challenge was when Jonno Ford and then Lewis Brown were spending 10 minutes in the sin bin or when EK neglected their basic principles and switched to Sevens-style rugby.
For the bulk of the game EK played some outstanding rugby, forwards off-loading through contact and backs displaying slick handling and quick feet to leave Dalziel grasping at air.
Ford, a belligerent presence off the bench, scored a second-half hat-trick and there were also tries for Roddy Beaton (2), Richie Murray, Grant Dryburgh, Mark Ellison, both Brown twins and a penalty try, Scott Shankie kicking the remainder.
Saturday was a useful run-out for the side. The fact that Dalziel, while clearly overmatched, provided stuffy opposition for 80 minutes can only benefit East Kilbride.
This weekend though is the real deal, when the side travel to Beith to take on second in the table Garnock, unbeaten in their last 11 contests. Kick-off is 2pm.
TEAM: 1. McLellan, 2. Anderson, 3. E. Beaton, 4. Dalgleish, 5. Rosie, 6. Irvine, 7. R. Beaton, 8. Middleton, 9. Ellison, 10. Murray, 11. M. Brown, 12. Shankie, 13. Stott, 14. L. Brown, 15. Dryburgh.
Replacements: S. Aitken, Ford, McLean and Stewart.
• Meanwhile, EK’s reserves also enjoyed a thumping win over Dalziel.
They triumphed 56-19 to record only their third win in 15 league games.
Tries from Ross McDade (2), Barry McLeod (2), Ryan Mason (2), Graeme Blackwood, Craig Ferguson, Matthew Fletcher and Matthew Smith did the damage.
Mason, Fletcher, Smith and the Brown twins in the first 15 are all part of the under-18 squad and impressed on their outings.