With the score at Lenzie 21, East Kilbride (EK) 0 with less than a quarter of the game played things were looking pretty bleak for EK. Indeed, Lenzie's two opening scores came very early in the game. Both came as a result of EK ceding possession in the opposition half and giving Lenzie's pacy backs an opportunity to run the ball into EK territory where, following some slick handling, tries resulted. The final quarter of the game, however, was very much EK's as their forwards began to dominate the set pieces and take the play into the home 22. EK's endeavours were duly rewarded when Evan Martin broke tackles to carry the ball close to the Lenzie line before slipping it to Justin Ludick for a try converted by Rory Blackwood. Rory had a chance to close the gap before half time but his attempted penalty conversion slid wide of the uprights.

As the second half got underway EK had high hopes of building on the performance of the previous 20 minutes to turn things around. They were awarded a penalty in the opening minutes of the half but Rory Blackwood's conversion attempt was off target. Hopes of gaining something from the match remained high until Lenzie scored three tries in a space of five minutes with 15 minutes of the half played. Two of the tries were converted leaving EK, trailing by 33 points at this stage, with a mountain to climb. EK fought back. The EK scrum was getting stronger with Harry Taggart in particular making life difficult for his opposite number. Just rewards for effort came later when the EK scrum drove the home side's over their own line for a touchdown claimed by Ben Walters. From the kick off Lenzie attacked and when EK were penalised close to their own line a forward rush gave them the final try of the game which, with the conversion added, made the final score Lenzie 47, East Kilbride 14.

In recent weeks the East Kilbride 1st XV squad has been seriously depleted by injuries and call offs for other reasons - e.g. work - and this was apparent in this game where a back division, which showed four changes from that which had taken the field the previous week, struggled to cope with opposition backs who, clearly, had played a lot together and used their pace and cohesion to good effect. EK's forwards, on the other hand, had the better of their opposition, particularly as the game wore on, and it was this forward domination that brought them the second try. Unsurprisingly this week's EK player of the match is a forward. Harry Taggart's performance in the set piece was outstanding. Added to this he is prepared to carry the ball to the opposition making him a valuable player both in the set piece and open play.

Andy, our regular physio, had a busy day as a number of players took knocks as the game wore on. Hopefully most will recover through the week but Richie Murray, who suffered a nasty facial injury which required him to go to hospital, is likely to be out for some time. We wish him well and hope that his recovery will be speedy.

Next Saturday (26th October) Cumnock will be the visitors to Torrance House for what will be the final game of the first phase of this year's league programme. Kick off is at 3 p.m. Following this game the team will have a well earned rest as the Autumn tests take centre stage, interrupted only by an SRU National Shield encounter with Wigtownshire on November 9th. League matches resume on 23rd November when local rivals, Cambuslang, will be our guests.