Annan 18 East Kilbride 19

East Kilbride (EK) took the long road to Annan hoping to atone for a disappointing result against Oban Lorne a week earlier.

A below par first half performance, there were a few bright spots, saw the EK team 13 points behind at the break. Having started brightly EK let Annan back into the game and when, 10 minutes into the half, they (Annan) spread the ball swiftly from right to left the space created gave their winger an easy run-in. This converted try and penalties, converted16 and 30 minutes into the half, coupled withthe loss of EK's Lewis Macfie to the sin bin gave the home team an advantage as the game moved into the second half.

It was, however, a different EK team that took the field as the whistle blew to start the second period. They attacked with great determination and it was not long, just 5 minutes into half, before Ben Walters touched down after a very effective drive towards the Annan line. Rory Blackwood's conversion attempt sailed wide on this occasion but he did not fail with his next two attempts, the first to add the extras to Lucas Aitken's try 5 minutes later, and the second, to put EK into the lead, when, 25 minutes into the half, Grant Dryburgh capped a fine performance with a try in the right hand corner. EK almost extended their lead when Evan Martin crossed the Annan line a few minutes later, but the referee adjudged the ball to have been held up over the line and a goal line drop out ensued.

6 points adrift by this time Annan launched an attack on the EK line. As happens when defending the line against wave after wave of forward drives penalties were conceded and Lucas Aitken received what should have been Richie Murray's yellow card. I hope that Richie rewarded him well! Defence in and around the posts did pay off and when Annan's final try came it was well left of the uprights. The conversion attempt missed narrowly to give EK the tightest of victory margins.

In this very tight game EK made things harder than they needed to be. They conceded far too many penalties which cost them dearly in terms of field position. On this issue two things must be said. Firstly, there is a need, very early in a game, to work out which offences the referee is likely to be enforcing strictly, and not repeat them! Secondly there is no point in moaning at a referee's decision. They are not going to change decisions and are more likely to march the team 10 metres for dissent. That apart you want the referee to be on your side and moaning at decisions made will not aid your cause. Those who referee our games do not have the benefit of two assistants plus a TMO so we have to accept that mistakes will be made and just get on with the game.

Player of the match? Alex Irvine argued that his stint as a touch judge should earn him that accolade. In the words of Ant and Dec I have to say "It's not you!" Others made a valid claim. At our social gathering afterwards Annan honoured Lewis Macfie with the "Opposition Player of the Match" award and quite a number of others would have been worthy winners. In selecting an EK Player of the Match I have to agree with many others who travelled to support the team and state that Grant Dryburgh, for his aggressive running, ball retention and the way in which he took his try is the EK player of the match.

Next Saturday (28th October) Ardrossan will be our guests at Torrance House. Ardrossan is the only unbeaten side in our division, so the challenge is great. Let's show that we are up to it! Kick off is at 3 p.m.