Friday night under lights at Bellsland saw the Penguins entertain Galloway in the first West Reserve League 3 game of 2023.
Killie playing into the breeze started brightly and scored a well worked try through flying winger Robert Hill after slick passing along the backline. the conversion was missed leaving the score at 5 points to 0 after 6 minutes. Killie continued to press and it was no surprise when the extended the their lead through a try by Graham McCue and a conversion by Scott Brown 12 - 0 after 17 minutes. Galloway were far from out of the game and pushed forward at every opportunity but a mistake at the base of a scrum allowed the evergreen Stewart Lauder to nip over from all of 6 inches the conversion was again missed, Killie now leading 17 - 0 with 10 minutes of the half to play. There was no further scoring 17 -0 at the break.
Killie turned round and with the wind at their backs immediately increased their lead this time Man of the Match Steph Stewart crossing the whitewash Brown knocked over the conversion 24 - 0 after 6 minutes of the 2nd half. Galloway were not to be outdone and responded with a try of their own and with a successful conversion narrowed the lead to 24 points to 7. Killie were using the wind to full advantage but so sound defending by the Galloway boys kept Killie quiet until the 70 minute when up popped substitute winger Ross Fitzimmons to score an opportunist try and increase Killie's lead 29 points to 7 with 10 minute left to play. Both teams pushed for further scores but to no avail . A good bonus point win keeps Killie at the top of the league with 4 games to play.
Man of the Match went to Steph Stewart, with the DoD tp Captain Ally McWhirter for beating around half the Galloway team before dropping the ball in the process of scoring.