EK hosted league leaders West of Scotland on Saturday at Torrance House. It was not EK’s best performance of the season but they showed grit in coming back in to the match. Down 6-14 at half time, they had some chances in the second half but poor option choices – a season feature – meant we failed to apply pressure when it might have helped and ultimately conceded the four try bonus point.

It was a disappointing result for EK. They dominated possession at the start for a whole four minutes (albeit ponderously) then West got a chance and scored a converted try on the left wing after six minutes by Ross Carnegie, converted by Blair Smith.

For the first twenty minutes, EK were slow (at best), lateral and predictable in attack. West defended well, but we made it easy for them, crabbing across the field with ball in hand when we did move it and consistently taking the wrong options.

We got humped at the first scrum, somehow retained the ball at the second and scrapped at the third. West’s second try came after 17 minutes, following good initial EK defence repelling forward breenges. But when West moved it wide, Carnegie got another try and Smith kicked the points. 0-14 and looking gloomy.

EK finally secured some ball and gave Brown a run but he chose not to pass. Nevertheless, it earned EK a penalty which Calum Blackwood kicked to get EK on the scoreboard. 3-14. He kicked another eight minutes later when West flopped in a ruck. Hard to believe it was so close!

That said, EK forwards proceeded to watch the restart sail by them and out for a line out. WTF!! There was relatively little to cheer the EK support – EK were trying silly passes and could not generate any continuity. And our kicking (looking for positives) was positively woeful.

Captain Gareth Jones stole at least three West line out put ins, which was welcome but overall EK struggled to generate any momentum. Half time: still in it at 6-14, a surprise in itself. Might we produce another Lazarus recovery a la RHC. Our lucky referee spotter – Alastair - was back willing us on (he is not allowed to admit as much but I saw it in his eyes!) but…

Another referee spotter was there – Gordon McMurray, once of this parish. He still claims to come from East Kilbride Rugby Club. If only he paid his membership to confirm it……. But he did buy me a drink afterwards. Guilt manifests itself in many ways!!

Coach Allan Steel’s half time talk may have called for spirit and endeavour. We retrieved our kick off (well done Tam Hughes) and carried the move on to create a two man overlap. But an unwillingness to part with the ball (again) when others looked in better position meant we blew what looked like a certain try in the first 2 minutes. Despite that, Blackwood kicked a penalty to make it 9-14. Coming back?

Alex Irvine went off with what looked like a shoulder knock (but which later might have been a dodgy knee!) to be replaced by Shane Armitage, with Gareth Jones moving to flanker. We played for a short while with more spirit, and better composure at the scrum allowing Armitage to have a few charges but West soaked it up without a great deal of difficulty.

The second half overall was quite dull, largely stuck in midfield. Blackwood was unlucky with a well struck penalty from some 40 metres – it rebounded off the post. At this point, the West support were a bit muted, or possibly just too polite to use their vocal chords. No Change there then. The match was there for either side to seize.

West seized it. From a midway line out which EK won, West engineered a turnover and charged off down the left wing. Good inter-passing and support by three players saw prop Iain Henderson crash over for an excellent try in the left corner. Blair Smith’s conversion made it 9-21 and the match was pretty well sown up.

They wrapped up the bonus point with a final try by Ross McAuley, again converted by Smith, coming from a scrum and a couple of forward breenges. Final score – 9-28.

West were deserved winners but it was frustrating to see an EK side display limited spirit and poor decision making. We have got some good backs but just could not engineer any space for them, or work out when to pass and when to kick.

This leaves West still at the top, with 44 points, EK a distant sixth with 28 points.

Man of the Match: from an EK perspective, a hard call. Shankie did some good stuff, Jones strove hard as usual but I think I will take the Fifth Amendment and say no one!

Next week: today’s match completed the first half of the season’s fixtures, so EK play the reverse fixtures for the rest of the season. This means we are off to HQ (for want of a better description) to play Murrayfield. Murrayfield are currently 12th, on five points. Can we get back on the winning trail? Turn up and find out!