East Kilbride (EK) travelled to Maybole, home of Carrick RFC knowing that this match against the local club, who, until last Saturday when they were defeated by Lenzie, sat top of SRU Arnold Clarks West Division 1, was going to be tough. This was an accurate prediction. Carrick ran in two tries in the opening ten minutes before Evan Martin crossed their line to bring EK to within one score of their hosts. Apart from Evan's try, fifteen minutes into the half EK did not score again although chances did go abegging, firstly when Ben Walters crossed the line to have his touchdown disallowed because there was a double movement, secondly when Roddy Beaton kicked through only to be felled by an opposition player as he chased the ball with the referee unsighted and thirdly when Ross McKeown made an outstanding break from his own 22 but didn't quite manage to get round the cover defence. Carrick managed to outmanoeuvre the EK defence to score three more tries which, with successful conversions made the half time score Carrick 31 EK 5.

EK used the wind in the second half to mount attacks on the Carrick line but, when the ball was turned over the guile and pace of the Carrick backs was used to good effect to enable them to add to their score. They ran in two more tries before EK managed to add to theirs, firstly when Mark (Sparky) Ellison crossed in the left hand corner and secondly when Robbie Japp scored following pressure from the EK pack on the home line. The game ended (50-15) with EK trying, without success, to get a fourth try and bonus point and a heavy rain shower.

For EK there were many positives. Tackling was generally good and tries conceded came not as a result of missed tackles but as Carrick's back division combined slick handling with running effective lines to make space. It was, therefore, no surprise that most of their tries were the product of overlaps created by this play. EK's pack dominated their opposition with Harry Taggart particularly impressive on the tight head. It was disappointing that EK were not awarded a single scrum penalty as the Carrick scrum crumbled under pressure on more than one occasion and doubly disappointing that the only scrum penalty awarded was against Harry Taggart for collapsing the scrum. There was strong running with Roddy Beaton, Ben Walters, Ross McKeown and Harry Taggart very much to the fore. Evan Martin is to be commended for his tackling and Roddy Beaton and Ben McLean were both effective in the line with each making short breaks when gaps appeared.
In a game in which many players could be awarded EK Player of the Match for effort and commitment the accolade this week goes to Harry Taggart for his outstanding performance in the set piece and his strong running with ball in hand.

Next Saturday EK entertain Lenzie in the second round of the SRU Shield. This is a repeat of the 2024/2025 final so the Torrance House XV will be out to make amends for the defeat they suffered at The Hive Stadium. The kick off will be at 13.30. Come along and support our boys.
EK's next league match will be against Greenock Wanderers on Saturday 15th November (KO 14.00).