Cumnock 27 East Kilbride 57

On a cold bright day in Cumnock it was the home team that kicked off on their splendid, artificial surface. It was they, too, that had the first opportunity to trouble the scorers when East Kilbride conceded a penalty about 30 metres from the posts. The kick, however, drifted wide. Almost immediately EK responded with a well worked move finished off by Evan Martin whose try near the left corner of the field was not converted. Rory Blackwood was, however, successful with his second and third conversion attempts. The first of these was scored by Roddy Beaton who broke free from Cumnock's tackle attempts to touch down between the uprights. The third, a few minutes later, was scored by Grant Dryburgh following an attack and grubber kick to take EK beyond the home defence. Further tries from Calen Brown and Juan Hodgkinson, with one converted by Rory Blackwood, moved the score on to 0-31 before Cumnock managed their only score of the half, an unconverted try. George Fisher finished off the half in style with a try between the posts giving Rory Blackwood a straightforward conversion.

Entering the second half with the score at 5-38 EK looked set to run up a cricket score, but Cumnock entered the half with other ideas. Grant Dryburgh got the scoring underway by carrying the ball beyond the home defence to give Rory Blackwood another straightforward conversion. Cumnock responded with another unconverted try before Lucas Aitken outstripped the home defence to take the EK total to 50. It was, however, Cumnock that had the better of the final half hour as they ran in three tries to EK's one, George Fisher's second, which Rory Blackwood converted with ease.

Having secured the winning bonus point and a comfortable lead (5-38) by the end of the first period EK became a bit careless during the second period and it was this that allowed Cumnock to score 4 tries to EK's 3 during this period. There were, however, a number pf notable highlights during this period. The set piece scrum, that had been under pressure early in the game, began to get on top, Robbie Greenfield, entering the fray as a replacement for Evan Martin, put in an exemplary tackle on the Cumnock right wing and Harry Taggart, who started the game at tight head prop and ended it in the centre, made a sizzling break to take the play to within the home 22. EK player of the match? This player not only scored a brace of tries, he also created space for his teammates with some mazy runs through the centre. This week's EK player of the match is George Fisher.

EK can look forward to three home games now. Next week Kilmarnock will be our guests (KO 2 p.m.). The following week we welcome Lenzie and on December 2nd Dalziel will be calling. Wins in these matches could propel EK to 2nd spot in the division, behind the as yet unbeaten Ardrossan Accies, so come on team, let's have some more top drawer performances and come on support, get up to Torrance Arena and get behind the team.