East Kilbride 22 Oban Lorne 30

With only a few minutes of the match remaining East Kilbride (EK) were awarded a penalty in the Oban Lorne (OL) half. 3 points adrift at that point in the game EK elected to kick for touch knowing that a catch and drive from the lineout culminating in a try would give them a victory with a try bonus point. The kick was accurate but what followed was disaster for EK. The lineout was lost, OL turned over the ball, and with strong running carried it to the opposite end of the field to touch down for a try that denied EK a losing bonus point.

EK kicked off, but it was OL that had the first opportunity to score when awarded a penalty about 30 metres from the EK line. It sailed wide and six minutes into the game EK drew first blood. The move was started inside the home 22. Grant Dryburgh broke a couple of tackles before transferring the ball to George Fisher who weaved his way through the OL defence to score the first try of the game. EK held the lead for just under ten minutes. OL, with 2 tries in two minutes took a seven point lead which was neutralised 25 minutes into the half when Rory Blackwood sniped over from a ruck close to the OL line to score EK's second try, which he converted. 10 minutes later a penalty conversion from the boot of Rory Blackwood returned the lead to Torrance House team, but it was OL that had the last laugh with a try on the stroke of half-time.

13 minutes into the second half OL extended their lead with an unconverted try. Lucas Aitken restored parity 20 minutes later with a mazey run to touch down between the posts giving Rory Blackwood a straightforward conversion. With the scores level OL converted a penalty to nudge themselves into the lead, a lead that was extended with that game ending try described above.

While this match had a few highlights, from an EK point of view it was a below par performance. Neither the attacking play which helped them to a sound victory over Dalziel nor the spirited defence that brought about victory against Strathaven were evident. Two needless yellow cards for impetuous behaviour (it has to be said that OL's tries at the close of each half were scored when EK were down to 14 players) and inconsistency at set pieces cost them dearly. The players' player of the match was David McGiven and I endorse that. He showed up well in loose play winning ball on the ground and carried well.

Next Saturday (21st October) EK travel to Annan. They need to put this performance behind them and play as they have shown they can play to get their league season back on track.