Rugby: Mini section celebrate tourney victory

Mar 31 2010 by Paul Thomson, East Kilbride News

A SIZEABLE East Kilbride mini-rugby contingent made their way to Troon to join a high-quality Marr College Tournament at the weekend.

And it was a mixed weekend for all the sides concerned.

The primary one to three (P1-3) unit went from famine to feast on Sunday. Having played only two games to date this year, they had five ties in one afternoon. Wins over Millbrae, Marr, Fullerton and Boroughmuir pitched them up against Ayr in the final and two tries from Rory Blackwood and one from Cameron McMillan still left EK trailing 4-3 in the dying seconds.

But when Euan Mossman powered over to tie the game there was double celebration in the EK camp as they took the title on countback.

In a six-team competition, strength in depth is essential and EK were well served by their younger bodies; Ross McMillan, Adam English, Andrew Roxburgh, Peter Home and Joseph Fegan.

Meanwhile, the primary six side have struggled a little this year after many seasons of success and Sunday was little different.

Early signs were promising when Boroughmuir were beaten 4-2, with Alan McNamee scoring three tries, but the next tie provided a reality check when Ayr ran out winners 6-2 and EK were completely outclassed by perennial junior powerhouse Stirling County. A Grant Dryburgh try was all that EK had to show for their efforts.

Somewhat downhearted by now, it was no surprise that EK lost their final game, going down 4-2 to their hosts, with Harry Taggart and the outstanding Ross Steven crossing the line.

The P7 unit continued their recent improvement and their win/loss record of one from four on the day does not really do them justice.

Hillhead / Jordanhill proved too strong in the opening tie, as did Ayr in game two, with this one as close as the 2-1 scoreline suggests. Cameron Kerr scored for EK.

Everything clicked in the third outing against Stirling County as strong forward play from Haggerty and Smithers meant that there was plenty of ball for the backs to use and McKinnon, Macfie, Mossman and Andrews ran riot to see EK home 5-1.

The boys were brought back to earth in their final tie, though, going down 5-3 to Marr, with the highlight being Cameron Horner scoring all three tries from a combined distance of 18 inches, as befits a muscular prop forward.