East Kilbride 18 Kilmarnock 13

Last week East Kilbride (EK) played Cumnock. The sky was clear, their (Cumnock's) artificial pitch provided a surface designed to encourage running rugby, and the ball was dry. EK revelled in these conditions and the support was royally entertained. This week Kilmarnock travelled to Torrance House Arena where early and continuing rain created conditions that were very different from those enjoyed the previous week.

Referee, Calum Lindsay-McGhee blew his whistle to set the game in motion at 2 p.m. EK kicked off. It did not take them long to put some points on the scoreboard. Line-out ball, won on the left touchline, was moved efficiently to the right where winger, Robert Calderwood, took the final pass of the move and broke through the visitors' defence to touch down. The try was unconverted, but Rory Blackwood's right boot was put to good effect when, 10 minutes later, Kilmarnock offended in front of their posts and Rory converted the penalty to give EK an 8 point lead. Kilmarnock came back into the game as half-time approached and an unconverted try from a line-out drive brought them to within three points of the EK score.

With the second half about 15 minutes underway the sides exchanged penalties giving EK a slender lead to take into the final quarter of the game. It was, however, Kilmarnock, who with a try scored in the same fashion as their first, nosed ahead. A late surge by EK and some deft play by Mark Ellison provided Matthew Fletcher with the opportunity he needed to dive over the visitors' line to score a try which, with Rory Blackwood's conversion, gave EK a five point lead which they carried to the final whistle.

A heavy playing surface, a wet ball and cold hands are not a recipe for fine flowing rugby. Under these circumstances both teams played remarkably well and this tightly fought encounter boiled over from time to time with players from both sides involved in some unsavoury incidents, the last of which led to the issue of yellow cards to Lucas Aitken and his opposite number. That apart there were quite a number of positives. The EK scrum more than held its own in set pieces and line-out ball was secured consistently. EK's defence was solid with the back-row particularly active. With the game well into the second half a sound tackle by David McGiven prevented an almost certain try and, therefore, to EK's victory. It is very easy to see the scoring of tries as the main contributor to winning but preventing the opposition from scoring is equally valid. Mark Ellison for his all round work rate and skilful play is this week's EK player of the match.

Next Saturday (25th November) Lenzie will be the visitors. Having lost narrowly over there back in September, EK will be looking to make amends and nudge themselves closer to the second top spot in SRU Tennent's West Region League, Division 1.