In the years I have reported on East Kilbride's performances in a range of competitions this has to be the first that I can justifiably describe as "a game of two halves". If the first half belonged to the home team, Oban Lorne (OL), the second most certainly belonged to East Kilbride (EK). So here's the story as it unfolded.

EK kicked off to give OL early possession which was soon turned over and when the home side was caught off-side about 40m from their goal-line Rory Blackwood gave EK the lead with a well struck penalty. OL did not waste time in countering, however, and from line-out possession near the EK line they went over for the first try of the match which was unconverted. Two more OL tries followed before Rory Blackwood squeezed over to bring the scores to home 19, visitors 8 at the half.

Having finished on a minor high at the end of the first half the opening moments of the second could be described as deflationary for EK as OL extended their lead with a converted try. Trailing by 18 points at this stage heads could very easily gone down and EK's travelling support was beginning to fear the worst (oh ye of little faith!). EK's response to OL's score came quickly with Ross McKeown breaking through in the middle of the field to touch down for an unconverted try. In what was becoming an increasingly physical encounter in which Rory Blackwood was receiving unwanted and unwarranted attention from an opposition attempting to wind him up (is it fair to target a player in the hope that he may react in a way that could bring a yellow or red card right?; I think not) . It is to Rory's credit that, in spite of the pressure, he remained unfazed. With less than 10 minutes having passed since Ross McKeown's score EK attacked from a line-out and when the forward pack, with some assistance from the back division, drove the ball over the home line for Evan Middleton to touch down. Rory Blackwood's conversion brought EK into a strong position. By now they needed just one converted try to overtake their opponents, and Richie Murray duly obliged with Rory Blackwood's conversion taking them a point clear. Although the ref's watch would have indicated that ther was little time left the game was far from over, and EK players and supporters may have thought it was when OL were awarded a penalty in the EK half which they duly converted to move themselves ahead by two points. It was, however, EK that had the last laugh when Evan Martin intercepted from close to the EK line and ran around 90m to touch down. Watching Evan's run was nerve wracking as an opposition winger was hot on his heels but it was Evan that found that little bit extra to take him clear. Evan touched down and, as this was the last act of an enthralling encounter in which the winner would progress to the next round of the SRU National Shield and the loser drop out, no conversion was needed and the game was over.

In recent years Glencruiten, the home of Oban Lorne has not been a happy hunting ground for East Kilbride, so it was most gratifying to see them succeed in this encounter. This was a bruising match in which the penalty count was high. It would have been higher had the referee, Paul Ellison, accepted all of the advice he received from both sides of the field! Playing, as we do in the lower level of Scottish rugby our referees do not have assistant referees or Television Match Officials (TMOs) to assist them so they have to make judgements based on what they see and we have to accept that some offences will be missed. It was also a day on which a number of players were forced off the field temporarily to have injuries attended to and special mention must be given to Alex Irvine whose return to the field midway through the second half did much to galvanise the squad and help them to what, earlier in the encounter, seemed an unlikely victory. This match was one in which EK came from behind with a stirring second half performance, one that was based on determination and fitness, two qualities that will be much in demand as the league season moves into its latter stages at a time when weather may have a significant influence on the schedules. On a day when everyone performed well as the game progressed in the fading light with the players' nominee for player of the match this week is Evan Martin, he defended well and had some good runs before that final lung busting 100 metre sprint which won the game for EK.

At the time of writing we await news of who our second round opponents will be. Next Saturday (December 7th) the team travels to Bishopton on league duty. The kick off will be at 2 p.m.