With only five minutes of the game played East Kilbride (EK) took an early lead when, following a break down the left by Evan Martin, Matthew Brown touched down for a try converted by Rory Blackwood. Cumnock's response, however, was quick as three minutes later they scored an unconverted try. A second try, unconverted again, by Cumnock gave them a brief lead which was countered when Ross McKeown crossed for an unconverted try. With half time approaching Cumnock launched a successful attack on the EK line. The ensuing try, converted this time, gave them a 5 point lead to take into the second half.

Early in the second half Cumnock converted a penalty to increase their lead to 8 points. This was reduced to two as Rory Blackwood converted two penalties 13 and twenty minutes into the half. At a time when EK really needed to take control of the game it was Cumnock that came good. An unconverted try towards the end of the half gave them a seven point lead and when, a few minutes later, they were awarded a very kickable penalty which went unconverted EK got one last chance to take the game to the other end of the field and level the scores. EK did succeed in taking play into the Cumnock 22. Cumnock offended giving EK an opportunity to secure that much needed score, a converted try. The line-out was taken, the ball was secured, but the assault on the Cumnock line spluttered and when EK spilled the ball a Cumnock player gratefully ran it out of play to end the game.

Once again EK turned the ball over far too often - handling errors and penalties conceded being two of the main culprits. That apart losing two players to yellow cards meant that they played 20 minutes of the game with only 14 men on the field. In a match which did not give those of us standing on the side-lines much to be cheerful about one player who continues to impress with his performances in sett piece and open play is this week's coaches' player of the match, Harry Taggart.

3 weeks into this season's campaign EK were riding high having won their first three league matches. This feeling of euphoria came to an abrupt end when Annan were victorious at Torrance House. The team has, since then, had only one win, against Strathaven, and the result is that they have fallen from the top half of the league into 7th position. So what has gone wrong? It might seem obvious but EK's failure to turn pressure into points, particularly tries, has much to do with their lack of success. As I look at the league table I note that only one other side, Bishopton, has fewer try bonus points than EK. EK's two does not compare favourably with any of the teams currently above them, all of which have 5 or more. Cumnock's win yesterday provided, for them, another try bonus point which, added to losing bonus points, gave them 8. EK has 3, 2 try bonus bonus points and one losing bonus point. Cumnock sit one place and one point ahead of us, they have secured 5 more bonus points than we have.

With the second half of the league campaign approaching, it opens on 23rd November with a home game against local rivals, Cambuslang, the team and coaches have a great deal of work to do as wins and points are needed to move this EK team away from the division's nether regions. In the meantime there will be a home fixture in the SRU National Shield in which Wigtownshire are to be the visitors. This match will take place on November 9th (KO 1.30 p.m.).