Games between East Kilbride (EK) and their visitors, Garnock, have often provided hard fought, close contests and this was no exception. Torrance House on Saturday was not a place for the faint hearted! EK and Garnock have, in past years, reached the final of the shield competition which brings with it the privilege of running out on to the Murrayfield turf. Both teams were keen to do so again and a win today would provide a small step in that direction.
Garnock kicked off and almost immediately put EK on the back foot as they (EK) conceded a penalty which the visiting kicker converted comfortably. From being 3 nil down in 1 minute EK went a further 3 points down in the thirteenth minute of the game as the Ayrshire team converted a second penalty. 19 minutes into the game EK took a one point lead when a Garnock forward spilled a high kick. The ball fell into Aiden Stott’s hands leaving him with sufficient space to complete his run to the line giving Scott Shankie an easy conversion. With 5 minutes of the half remaining EK conceded a penalty try for an offence at a scrum on their own line and could regard themselves as lucky not to lose a player to the sin-bin. Without delay Scott Shankie took the ball, ran to the centre line and took a quick drop out to launch an attack on the Garnock line. This action left players and spectators somewhat bemused but did not have an immediate impact on the scoreline. EK’s second try came almost on the stroke of half-time when they countered from defence and Richie Murray ghosted through from full-back to score between the sticks giving Scott Shankie and easy conversion.
Going into the second period with a leading by a single point EK knew they had it all to do to maintain their lead. This lead was extended when, 6 minutes into the half, Scott Shankie burrowed over the line for an unconverted try. A further opportunity to extend their lead did come when EK were awarded a penalty well within Scott Shankie’s range but chose instead to kick for the line out. The throw in was adjudged “not straight” and the visitors cleared from the ensuing scrum. The action then moved into the EK 22 and though EK’s defence was valiant the issue of a yellow card to Gary Thornton gave Garnock an advantage that they exploited with a try in the left corner. An excellent conversion gave them a one point lead. This did not last long, however, as Garnock offended and Scott Shankie made sure of the 3 points on offer with a successful conversion of the penalty. With time running out EK conceded another penalty and it was the visiting kicker that made no mistake to return the lead to them. With less than five minutes of the game remaining EK took the game into the Garnock half and gained a penalty when the opposition offended. Trailing by a single point EK knew that a successful conversion would almost certainly bring them the result they were looking for. Scott Shankie stepped up to take the kick. He handled the pressure coolly and sent the ball between the uprights. The game was not quite over. EK gathered the Garnock kick off and retained possession long enough to run the clock down and kick the ball off the field to end the game.
This was a keenly contested match between two well matched teams. Home and visiting spectators hailed it as a good game of rugby. The East Kilbride performance was certainly an improvement on that of the two previous weeks and with league contests against opponents that have had successful starts to their campaigns (Stewartry and Lenzie away and Allan Glen’s at home) to come further improvement will be necessary for them to continue the quest for league glory. For most of the game the EK scrum did well to hold a very strong Garnock 8 but, as was the case when the penalty try was conceded, they did discover that any relaxation in concentration is likely to be punished. The decision, halfway into the second half, to kick into the corner when three points were on offer, especially when those three points would have given them a two score advantage, was difficult to understand. It was also the case that indiscipline cost EK dearly as was the case a week ago and this is something that must be dealt with. There were quite a number of positives. Ball retention was better than it has been in previous games and every forward showed a great deal of commitment both in carrying the ball to the opposition and in securing the ball on the deck where both Chris (Tophie) O’Neill and Evan Middleton were outstanding. Once again this was a day on which picking a man of the match proved difficult. For his all-round play and keeping a cool head to slot the winning kick man of the match the accolade goes to Scott Shankie.
Team: Marriott, Ford, E Beaton, Rosie, Irvine, O’Neill, R. Beaton and Middleton. Ellison and Henderson. Dryburgh, Shankie, Stott, Hagerty and Murray
Replacements: Thornton, McLellan, McGibbon & Brown
Next Saturday (October 5th) - Stewartry (A)