Rugby: Young guns shoot down their older opponents

Oct 7 2009 by Paul Thomson, East Kilbride News

East Kilbride 16 Irvine 10

East Kilbride under-13 rugby team proved if you are good enough, you are old enough as they beat Irvine under-14s on Sunday.

Although playing against older and physically bigger players, the East Kilbride team showed great teamwork.

Irvine pinned East Kilbride in their own half for the first 15 minutes of the game but only scored one try in that time. From the restart East Kilbride showed great rugby skills, stringing together 23 passes with every player being involved.

The Irvine defence was good but East Kilbride could not be stopped as Robbie McCallum ran into the corner to score.

As often is the case, the scoring team relaxed and let Irvine score with a planned move down the blind side by the number eight from the base of the scrum.

In the second half all East Kilbride's summer fitness training paid off. From the kick-off the forwards counter-rucked, securing the ball. Scrum half Tony McGurk picked up the ball and drew the defence, and his pass released Cameron Thompson, who beat four players to score between the posts. Soon after Tony McGurk passed from the base of the scrum to Aiden Stott who went down the blind side linking up with Cameron Thompson to score between the posts.

East Kilbride began to run the Irvine defence ragged with passing and powerful runs, and during one of these phases East Kilbride scored.

With the Irvine defence stretched and chasing shadows, Robbie McCallum received a pass, and broke three tackles from desperate defenders to score.

In the dying moments of the game Irvine scored a try. Roddy Beaton converted all four of East Kilbride's tries with dead-eye kicking skills.