KRFC 31 - Lenzie 8

On Saturday Kilmarnock faced Lenzie at Bellsland looking for their first win of the season.

The forwards set the early tone after winning a scrum penalty in midfield. The ball was kicked to the corner and from the resulting line-out a well executed driving maul resulted in the first score of the game, Craig Sheppard emerging with the ball. Ethan McIsaac added the extras, 7-0 after 8 mins.

The kick-off was fielded by Connor Turnbull who returned the ball to halfway and Lenzie carried the ball back. The Kilmarnock defence was strong for a number of phases and Sean McAfferty made an excellent steal at the ruck. Lenzie continued this period of pressure before a knock on gave Kilmarnock a defensive scrum. The ball was swiftly dispatched upfield and another turnover gave Kilmarnock an opportunity to attack, but a penalty for holding on gifted possession back to Lenzie. The KRFC coach was overhead stating the work rate had dropped and asked for more. The players reacted and turned over possession from the Lenzie line-out and cleared their lines again.

The rain was beginning to fall heavier making conditions even tougher for all players. The play became scrappy with a number of scrums for dropped catches or knock-ons in the slippery conditions. The next score eventually went to Lenzie after a monster hit by Ewan Callahgan, Lenzie recycled the ball and the ball reached the number 8 who skipped by three tacklers bringing Lenzie towards the 22. Eventually a high tackle was committed and the Lenzie inside centre knocked over the kick, 7-3 after 22mins.

After the kickoff a series of kicks back and forth eventually when Killie took the ball on ended with a penalty for a high tackle on Craig McWhirter. The ball was kick to just outside the 22 and from the resulting line out maul Craig Sheppard broke away but was penalised for holding on allowing Lenzie to clear. From the resulting line out, which was overthrown, Taylor McHarg gathered the ball fed it along the backs, Colman to McIsaac who was stopped inside the Lenzie 22. Kilmarnock were beginning to build some sustained pressure which was released after a knock-on by the forwards.

Lenzie kicked the ball upfield from the resultant scrum which was gathered and returned, Robbie Paxton taking the ball forward and dummying through the Lenzie line. The ball went wide to Chris Milligan who was forced into touch. From the resulting line out Lenzie once again cleared their lines to touch. Killie won their own line-out and Craig Sheppard broke away but had the ball was stripped by the Lenzie defence.
The next number of phases again were punctuated with handling errors and scrums. From a Kilmarnock scrum the backs attacked with McIsaac reaching the twenty-two when Lenzie were penalised for going off their feet. A quick tap and the ball passed out left and Robbie Colman glided into a half gap handing off his opposite number before passing to Chris Milligan to score. With the final act of the half, Ethan once again kicked the conversion, 14-3 at half-time.

The second half continued the pattern of play from the first, with both sides having a number of phases disrupted by the slippery conditions. Kilmarnock scored the first points with a penalty from McIsaac, 17-3 after 47mins.

Play continued with Kilmarnock probably edging the back and forth, before they scored again after Lenzie had tried to attack the Killie blind side but the pass was knock-on into touch. Kilmarnock took the line-out and set up a number of phases before Robbie Paxton jinked into between three tackles to score a nice try. McIsaac converted, 24-3 with 58 mins gone.

The kick-off was gathered and cleared by Conner Turnbull to the middle of the Kilmarnock half. The resultant line out was stolen and Craig McWhirter nudged a 50-22 From the position in the Lenzie 22, Kilmarnock won the line-out but then knocked-on. Another series of phases followed before a short game of kick tennis which Kilmarnock ended with Robbie Colman making a break down the left. Soon after McIsaac was given an opportunity to kick another penalty from 40 plus metres and whilst having the distance the ball drifted wide.

Lenzie then applied some pressure which resulted in a goal line drop out to Kilmarnock. The resultant phases led to a ruck penalty and Lenzie taking a quick tap penalty ad scoring in the corner. With the conversion missed the score was now 24-8 after 74 mins.

Lenzie continued to build pressure looking to close the gap but a Killie penalty and a quick tap from Conner Turnbull took him 50m into the Lenzie half, but he couldn’t connect with a teammate. Kilmarnock continued to press and a high tackle penalty led to a line out from just outside the 5m line. The ball was gathered, maul set and driven over, with Craig Sheppard taking the plaudits again. McIsaac made it four conversions for the day, 31-8 final score.

Captain Craig Sheppard noted that the effort was there and admitted to dropping four balls in horrible conditions. Coach Stuart Pratt highlighted that the effort was excellent and showed that they really wanted to win this week. Need that type of performance week after week to finish higher in the table. He did note that some opportunities were left out there.