East Kilbride 12 Ardrossan Accies 31

With 15 minutes of the game remaining, and the score at 17-12 in favour of the runaway league leaders, Ardrossan Accies (AA), the visitors' no 9 ripped the ball from the usually secure hands of Alex Irvine and run in a converted try to increase their lead to 12 points, and put the game pretty much out of range for East Kilbride (EK). Things did not get any better. With the game in "time added on" a misdirected kick returned possession to the visitors who ran in their fourth try to claim a win bonus and increase their lead to 19 points.

EK kicked off and attacked from the start. Clearly they felt confident enough to eschew an early opportunity to take the lead when awarded a penalty well within Rory Blackwood's compass. They chose to punt to touch instead but the take and drive at the ensuing line-out was repelled by AA, and it was they who took the lead, against the run of play, with a converted try 24 minutes into the game. They increased this lead to 14 points a couple of minutes later with a try between the posts. An inspirational moment from Rory Blackwood some ten minutes later took EK closer to the visitors score. Rory's try came when he took the ball from the set scrum and wrong footed the defending scrum half to give himself a clear run to the line. AA closed out the half with a successful penalty conversion leaving EK a not insurmountable task to face in the second half.

EK started the second half as they had the first, with great determination, and though it took some time they put themselves very much into contention when, 15 minutes into the half, their attack from a line-out was rewarded when Ben Austin touched down and Rory Blackwood added the extras. Sniffing the possibility of a surprise victory, and with some help from their opponents who conceded a number of penalties, mainly at the set piece, and had a player yellow carded, EK continued in attacking vein. Their attacks did not, however, bear fruit and it was the visitors that had the better of the game's dying minutes to leave EK ruing what could have been an afternoon for celebration.

This was a curate's egg of a game. There was good play in both attack and defence, but there were far too many mistakes - misplaced kicks, poorly executed passes and missed tackles - as a result of which the much sought after victory never came. EK player of the match? Once again a number of players made a good case for themselves. Rory Blackwood's try was certainly a moment to savour but not quite enough to secure, for him, the accolade. David McGiven, as always, put in a great shift, but this week I'll go along with the Ardrossan supporters who, when admiring one of Gary (Gump) Thornton's bullocking runs said "he's their best player". So, my EK player of the match this week is Gary (Gump) Thornton. I should also add that the decision of the coaches to move Gump into the front row has given the scrum a stability that it lacked early in the season.

EK will be on the road again next week when they travel to Stranraer to take on Wigtownshire (KO 2 p.m.)