On a fine but cold day at Torrance House East Kilbride (EK) opened strongly.

Ben Walters opened the scoring 15 minutes into the match when, following a period of EK pressure on the Strathaven line, he picked up from the base of a set scrum to burst through a Strathaven defence which, until then, had shown little sign of conceding. This try went unconverted. The next was made, scored and converted by Roddy Beaton. 25 minutes into the match Roddy broke from deep to make inroads into the Strathaven half before releasing the ball to one of his team mates who carried it close to the Strathaven line where, before being caught by an opposition defender, he returned it to Roddy giving him an easy run in. EK's lead (12-0) was cut back before the half-time break as the Whiteshawgate XV scored two tries, the first from a line-out take and drive and the second from open play. Only the second of these was converted thus ensuring that scores were level when the whistle blew to herald the half-time break.

EK and Strathaven exchanged scores in the opening minutes of the second half. EK's, a touch down from Nathan (Monaco) Miller came in open play with Strathaven's coming in similar fashion at the opposite end of the field. Roddy Beaton's conversion kept the EK lead at 2 points. EK scored once more during the third quarter of the game. This time it was Evan Martin that got the touch down with the try being unconverted. Strathaven came back with strong running providing the crucial scores. With the final quarter of the game to be negotiated EK had a two point lead (24-22). However some good handling and strong running from the visiting back division saw that lead lost as 2 tries secured, for Strathaven, a victory by 10 points leaving EK to rue what might have been.

Though the final result was disappointing there were a lot of positives for EK. Roddy Beaton fitted into the 10 jersey as if he had been born to play stand-off. For his overall performance, making breaks and deft kicking he earns the accolade "EK Player of the Match". Ben Walters carried well throughout putting himself in the frame. This season has seen EK introduce a number of young players to 1st XV. At this stage they are showing a greater maturity than was the case earlier in the season. They must be encouraged to remain faithful to EKRFC and play a key role in bringing good times back to Torrance House. In a tight game, such as this was, it is often the team that is fittest that wins in the final twenty minutes. In this game that was Strathaven and this has to be a lesson for EK as the second half of this league season is about to kick off.

EK travel to Fort Mathilda in two weeks time to take on Greenock Wanderers. With a victory over Cambuslang, Greenock leapfrogged EK. With Greenock one point above bottom placed EK and Annan three points above EK a victory on November 28th would see EK come off the bottom of the league and, we sincerely hope, mark a revival in fortunes to bring them some safety. That's a lot to play for, so hard work between now and the end of the league season must be the order of the day.