LENZIE v KRFC

Last Saturday travelled to Viewfield to play second placed Lenzie and came away with no reward losing 20-12. On a very windy day the visitors decided to play with the wind and knocked on at the kick-off. From the scrum the home number eight picked up, raced up the blind side and from the ruck attacked but were held up short of the goal line. A knock on by the blind side flanker gave Kilmarnock a scrum and the ball was kicked but failed to find touch. Lenzie ran straight at the Kilmarnock defence and were stopped on the goal line but scored from the second phase with no conversion. Lenzie 5-0 ahead after two minutes.

The grubber restart kick was returned to touch for a Kilmarnock lineout which was knocked on. A repeat pick up by the number eight who passed to his scrum half and his kick ahead was fielded by fullback Robbie Colman and from the maul the ball was passed to winger Chris Milligan onto Ryan Andrews who lost possession and a scrum awarded to Lenzie. Out the home backline and Robbie Colman picked up a knock on and raced thirty-five metres. Kilmarnock moved from the ruck but a poor pass to Chris Milligan gave Lenzie a scrum. Similar pick up from the base taken on by the forwards who conceded a penalty. Craig McWhirter found touch deep in the twenty-two and from the lineout Morton Sinclair took the ball and went over for a try. Craig McWhirter missed the conversion in the seventh minute, sides level at 5-5.

Kilmarnock knocked on from the restart and Lenzie won the ball from their scrum. They retained possession and forced their way into the Kilmarnock twenty - two winning a penalty in front of the posts which was converted giving them the lead 8-5 after quarter of an hour.
Play continued with Kilmarnock ahead in terms of possession but could not convert opportunities to score combined with a couple of poor passing errors. The wind was still in their favour, but they opted to run the ball and from a Sam Diamond break his pass to Chris Milligan saw the winger held up short of the goal line. A second break by Diamond was backed up by hooker Jordan Duncan who went over for a try. Craig McWhirter was crucially wide of the mark Kilmarnock ahead 12-8 on the half hour.

From the restart Kilmarnock secured the ball and three phases later were penalised. Lenzie kicked for touch and from the lineout mounted several short-range forward attacks and the Kilmarnock defence was unable to prevent a try being scored. No conversion Lenzie ahead 13-12 with eight minutes of the half to play.

Kilmarnock pressed and kicked on occasions but failed to find touch allowing Lenzie to counter- attack. The half ended with no further scoring.
Kilmarnock kicked off the second half into a strong wind and Lenzie made good use of the wind kicking deep into Kilmarnock territory where the visitors had great difficulty in making ground out of their own half. With few players from either side committing to the rucks it was one pass to the outlying forwards to pound each other’s defence. Lenzie built up momentum and their forwards went over for a try with the referee several metres away giving the decision. The conversion in front of the posts was made, Lenzie increased their lead 20-12.

Scott McDowall came on at scrum half along with debutant Archie Jackson to replace Craig Hunter and Ewan Caldwell. Try as they might Kilmarnock were pinned in their own half with Robbie Colman making the odd run out of defence. Kilmarnock won a several penalties with Ryan Andrews struggling to find touch from midfield due to the wind. The Kilmarnock set piece was dominant and strangely were penalised for pushing Lenzie off the ball. Soon two further substitutions were made with Ewan Callagan and Kieran Pattie replacing Jonathan Goodlet and Victor Murray.

Lenzie continued to press for a score but were held at bay by the Kilmarnock defence. In a final effort Kilmarnock broke into the opposition half with Robbie Colman fielding and passing to Robbie Paxton, the forwards took over with Niall Murphy and Jordan Duncan taking the ball into contact, Lenzie drove in from the side and Kilmarnock won a penalty however a melee erupted. The referee’s penultimate action was to witness a Lenzie player on the ground deliberately holding as Craig McWhirter tried to arrest the ball. A red card for Craig McWhirter and the referee blew early for no-side.A last gasp effort in vain, no losing bonus point with Lenzie winners 20-12.

Captain Craig Shepperd remarked at pace it was a good effort all round and thanked the boys who stepped in. They are a good side. He said we must train through the Christmas period; this season is far from over. Coach Stuart Pratt highlighted this encounter was not a target game and emphasised the need to build momentum and focus on the remaining games. He later announced Robbie Colman once more as Man of the Match.