East Kilbride U18s 10 -v- 33 Kilmarnock U18s

With Whitecraigs forfeiting their league game at Killie, East Kilbride stepped in at the 11th hour with an offer of game, having been left in a similar position.

It certainly wasn’t a day for silky rugby, with relentless rain and a very heavy pitch, which all the sand in world was never going to correct - but at least it was a game and the same conditions for both sets of players to contend with.

EK started Strongly, with plenty of pressure on the Killie defence, which stood strong. EK scored first, going over the line at the corner flag, after reacting quicker to the ball on the deck and catching Kilmarnock flat footed. Conversion missed.

Kilmarnock started to come more and more into the game, as they got to grips with the conditions and stated moving the ball around, as well as getting in behind the EK defensive line with some good offload play. And it was from this Kilmarnock scored below the posts through Logan Hendrie, with Thomas Dunlop adding the extra 2 points.

Unlike their previous two games, Killie seemed to find their confidence and also their groove, with Josh McGregor scoring his first try for the club, Thomas again adding the extras.

EK continued to probe the Kilmarnock defensive line, but they hold strong each time, and continued to move the ball around, making the home side work hard across the the pitch. We could have had a couple of extra scores out wide through Shaun Hillis and Thomas Dunlop, however just before half time Daniel Christie went over the line for his first try of the afternoon, Thomas again adding the extras. Half time 5-21.

The second half continued very much like the first half, with a second try from Daniel, who intercepted a pass and ran in from the 10 meter line to score in the corner. Thomas again adding the extras with the hardest of the four kicks out wide on the touch line and sailing bang through the middle of the posts.

Killie weren’t finished yet, and from a training ground move, scored the try of the game from a scrum, with the ball shipped out wide for Andrew Bruce to score in the corner. With Thomas off due to a niggle, Captain Luke Lithgow stepped up to take the conversion which fell just short.

The final score though went to EK, who gathered a poor clearance from within the 5 metre line to cross the line for the final points of the game, with the conversion pulling to the right of the post.

This was a much improved performance and it was good to see the boys smiling and enjoying their rugby again - the mojo is certainly back!

Big thank you to EK for the offer of the game and hopefully we can have you down at Bellsland.

Todays man of the match was a unanimous decision from the team and well deserved…Murray Imrie.