On a day when the elements made staying at home curled up with a good book or in front of the TV , 42 players, referee, Ed Crick, and supporters from both camps braved the conditions. While spectators wrapped themselves up and struggled to keep their umbrellas in one piece the players put on a splendid display as they struggled, surprisingly successfully, to cope with everything that Storm Boelo threw at them. Some of us, however, were fortunate to have a seat in the Cambuslang clubhouse overlooking the pitch. There was, also, a certain poignancy to this game as it was the first meeting of the teams since the passing of Ian (Tank) Williams, Cambuslang prop, an enthusiast and a friend of EK past players and those in the current squad who remember him fondly as their PE Teacher at Ballerup and Duncanrig schools. It was fitting that, on this day, Evan McKelvie, Tank's great nephew was taking the field in an EK shirt. And so to the game itself!

With the strong wind behind them East Kilbride (EK) received the kick off and moved into home territory. Pressure on the Cambuslang line soon proved fruitful as, with only 7 minutes played Gary (Gump) Thornton, playing at no. 8, picked up from the base of the scrum to charge through the home defence for the first try of the match. Grant Dryburgh's conversion attempt was unsuccessful as was his attempt at a long range penalty as wind assistance gave the required distance but pushed the ball to the left of the uprights. For most of the remainder of the half both sides, to their credit, handled the ball well, line outs were more secure than might have been expected in the prevailing conditions while the EK scrum proved strong, particularly early in the game. In truth EK really needed 2 or three more tries to give them a commanding lead to take into the second half but this was not to be. EK did manage to get 5 more points as the half drew to close and it was, for the second time, Gary (Gump) Thornton with a repeat of the action that secured the earlier score.

Playing into the wind in the second half EK knew that much work was needed to hold on to what was a slender lead. They did , indeed, attack the Cambuslang line but stout defence by Cambuslang, or handling errors of their own kept the score-line unchanged for 10 minutes, when, to the delight of the home support, an unconverted try brought the scores closer. During the half Cambuslang used the wind to their advantage in a way that EK had failed to do and so it was that promising EK attacks were quickly reversed as kicks from within the Cambuslang 22 found their way well into EK territory. Cambuslang's second try came as a result of errors of judgement on the part of EK. Having been awarded a penalty close to their own line when the attacking runners were adjudged to have crossed EK chose to scrum. What followed was best described as a mess with EK in possession but close to, and eventually in, their own in-goal area. A sharp thinking Cambuslang player spotted the ball on the ground and dived on it to claim the try which was duly converted to give the home team a narrow lead which, with the elements favouring them, gave them a significant psychological advantage. As the final whistle approached Cambuslang scored their third try of the afternoon which, to the relief of all EK people, was unconverted as this did, at least, mean that EK secured a losing bonus point.

I received a message from Ed Crick, yesterday's referee, last evening. Here is what he said about EK:

"Best I have seen EK for a long while. Real guts and team commitment, Amazing scrum power Gump a revelation 8 but the starting tight head was unreal. Should have scored more points first half with wind and hill in favour."

I have to agree that EK really needed to secure more points when the wind and slope favoured them in the first half. A lack of accuracy when kicking from hand was, during this period, a significant problem as were the decisions to keep the ball in hand when a kick into space within the opposition half might have been more effective. With EK scheduled to play Strathendrick (away) in the national shield next Saturday (31st. October) and Scotland playing the All Blacks at Murrayfield on November 7th the next league game will be against Strathaven at The Torrance House Arena on November 14th. This will be the final league game of this half of the season. Having won only one game game out of eight so far a great deal of work is required if fortunes are to be turned around before we enter the second period.

Finally, yesterday's EK player of the match for his overall effort and scoring two tries is Gary (Gump) Thornton.