Read on for Malcolm MacDonald's match report of East Kilbride RFC 2nds match at the weekend.
With no fixture for the 1st XV, EK’s 2nds took the limelight on Saturday. This was a somewhat unexpected honour for them, as they were still reeling from the shock of facing their first league match since 5 November.
Keen to get out of their current league, with patchy fixtures and disappearing teams, they recorded a good win against Dumfries 3rds. EK scored seven converted tries to gain the four try bonus point.
Contrary to the opposition's belief, EK fielded only two regular 1st XV players, who like most EK players, had not had much rugby lately.
EK were dominant in the first half, playing some good rugby. They notched some good tries -six in total, all converted by the expert boot of Calum (Bert) Blackwood.
Try scorers were Fraser Stott (from our under 43's team), Scott Shankie, Gary Thornton from a No8 pick up and romp over; Gordon Stevenson, after Bert Blackwood acted as link following another Gump (Thornton) pick up; Sandy Bruce and then our youthful winger/flanker, Alex Irvine. The four try bonus was happily secured.
The half time break saw EK make a raft of changes in personnel. This seriously disrupted their fluency, which, allied to a continuing flow of penalties against the home team, and a lack of possession, meant that they had to defend for much of the half.
Finally, they gave the home support something to cheer by a period of pressure which saw David Cowie crash over for a try converted by Bert.
There was little more of play - the referee was struggling with an injury so blew the whistle early, but not early enough to deny EK the win.
Team: Euan Perry, Rian Anderson, Scott Aitken, John Watson, Andy Kampman, Sandy Bruce, Gary Thornton, Chris O'Neill, Ian Stevenson, Fraser Stott, Gordon Stevenson, Bruce Beggans, Bert Blackwood, Alex Irvine, Scott Shankie.
Replacements: Calum Aitken, David Cowie, Calum Hastie, JB Timmons, Ally Donaldson, Scott Johnson, Ross Stewart.
Next week the 1st XV travel to Newton Stewart, currently 4th in the league table, while EK are 6th but hoping to continue their unbeaten league run in 2012. The 2nds are away to local rivals, Hamilton, where they will play their 3rds. Both games kick off at 3 pm.
