This match involved the 2 teams that got promoted into the 1st division last year, but since then, Uddingston had secured a lot of new recruits. And the respective EK and Cambuslang teams had merged due to inadequate numbers for a full team in both clubs. We will call them Cambek for ease of reporting!

The pitch was muddy having been played on three times already over weekend, following a week of heavy rain, so fancy backs play was not on the cards.

The home side scored first, after pressure resulted in a lineout on the Uddingston 5 metre line. Uddingston threw in and tapped the ball back, Cailean McIver gathered the bouncing ball and dived over to score. Score: 5-0.

Despite the coaches instruction not to switch off after they scored, Cambek did! The Uddingston standoff kicked long and with no full back at home, and no one willing to go down on the ball, they scored 2 identical tries within 10 minutes, both converted. Score: 5-12.

The home coaches changed the shape of the team and this dealt with the long kick for the rest of the match. Uddingston scored again with a well worked move where they loaded the left side of the pitch to score with an overlap. Half time 5-19.

Fitness and teamwork on the part of Cambek made the 2nd half a different story. Mark Donachie scored when the ball went out the backs from a ruck on the Uddingston 5 metre line. Mark used his bulk to power over from 10 metres, Roddy Beaton got the conversion. Score: 12-19.

Then Ben Walters scored from the 22, breaking 3 tackles to score in the corner. Score: 17-19.

Halfway through the 2nd half the home side forwards set up a maul that went 10 metres drawing the Uddingston defence. Mark Donachie was at the base of the maul, broke blind and drove over from 2 metres for the decisive score. Score: 22-19.

This was a good victory overall but areas to work on are concentration generally while the forwards need to get to the breakdown faster.
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