In this pre-season friendly (3x20 Minute sessions) the home side (Stewartry) started brightly scoring 17 points through 3 tries and one conversion in the opening 10 minutes. EK got the travel weariness out of their systems and fought back to claim a try before the first 20 minute session ended. During the second 20 minute session scores were even, one try each with neither converted and it was only as the game reached its finale that the local team extended their lead with three tries all of which were created and finished by a back line that moved the ball effectively to the wide channels where the EK defence that had stood firm throughout the match was outflanked.

This was a pre-season friendly designed to give players experience of genuine rugby before the serious business of league rugby begins. For EK there were many positives. First of all the youngsters coming into the team played like they were born to be first xv regulars. Some of the more senior members too performed in ways that belied their years. There were quite a number of highlights for EK to celebrate. Matthew McGill's try saving tackle toward the end of the first session, Andrew Kingswell's bullocking run in the third session, set piece scrummaging, taking line-out ball from opposition throw-ins and, overall, stout tackling throughout are all worthy of mention. It should be noted, also, that the three late tries scored by Stewartry came from situations in which they were defending an EK side on the attack. In another situation these could be described as "if only" situations - "if only the final pass had gone to hand", "if only the ref had not been unsighted when the opposition knocked on", if only the kick had found touch". It's these wee things that can turn a game, sometimes for you, but all too often against you.

With the first league encounter only two weeks away, when Greenock Wanderers will be our guests at Torrance House, this game gave the coaches much to build on. A second pre-season game has been arranged for next Saturday (15th August), when EK will be the visitors at Whitecraigs, another team playing in a higher division, so another fair test before the serious business of league rugby begins.