It was a dull but dry day at Torrance House as East Kilbride (EK) took the field in what was a crucial league encounter against Lanarkshire rivals, Dalziel.

EK kicked off, Dalziel gathered, and EK were penalised at the ensuing breakdown. Dalziel used possession gained at the ensuing line-out to clear downfield but EK's riposte was to run the ball back into the visitor's 22. Juan-Lee Hodgkinson took possession in the ensuing maul from where he escaped the clutches of the opposition forwards to run the remaining five metres to score between the uprights giving Rory Blackwood a straightforward conversion to take EK into a 7 point lead with only 4 minutes on the clock. 6 minutes later Rory Blackwood had an opportunity to extend that lead when Dalziel were penalised some 30 metres from their own line but, on a day when the playing surface made things difficult for place kickers, the usually reliable Rory's kick drifted wide. If the first quarter of the game was dominated by the home team it was in the second quarter that the visitors began to assert themselves. Their pressure on the EK line, aided by the concession of a number of penalties by the home side, led to a converted try to bring the scores level. Dalziel very nearly scored a second but were thwarted by Evan Martin who managed to get under the Dalziel number 7 to prevent the touch down and give EK a goal line drop out to clear their lines.

With the scores level as Dalziel kicked of to set the second half underway a tight game was in prospect. It was, however, EK that made their mark when from the kick off a break down the left hand side of the field was finished by Evan Martin who outpaced the defence to touch down. A Rory Blackwood conversion doubled EK's points tally and with only a couple more minutes played Alistair Marriot touched down from a maul on the Dalziel line to add a further 5 points to the home total. This score put EK firmly into the driving seat but total domination was not achieved as, in spite of the cry "no penalties" resounding around the field EK conceded a number of penalties at the breakdown to give Dalziel opportunities to move the game into the Torrance House team's quarter of the field. EK's defence held firm, however, and when, from a penalty in the opposition half EK kicked to touch and spread the ball from the ensuing maul Ross McKeown burst through the defence to touch down for the final score of the match.

This victory, with a try bonus point, was certainly what EK needed before going into the Christmas/New break. Victories in the SRU National Shield against Annan, Wigtownshire and Oban Lorne, which preceded this game should give the team confidence as they prepare for their next league encounter, away against Annan, on January 11th. It was also gratifying to note that in this hard fought contest physio, Andy, was not called upon too often! EK player of the match, nominated by coaches Alasdair Dalgleish and Franklin Clark, is Ross McKeown.