Killie travelled to Strathaven with 13 men for their 1st Match in this seasons league campaign.

Strathaven kicked off on a cold afternoon, with little wind and a good to soft field.

Following opening exchanges Strathaven broke on blind side of breakdown, following some good support play and interpassing Heggie their outstanding openside flanker scored the opening try of the match. Kennedy was unsuccesful with his kick at goal.

The match was open for the next 12 minutes with both sides trying to play the pass and support game. On 15 Minutes Killie lost full back Euan Strachan to a dead leg caused by a stray Strathaven boot. This was an unfortunate blow to the Killie attack, Strachans speed and elusiveness was sorely missed. Strathaven kindly loaned one of their subs to keep the sides even. On the 18 th minute a solo driving run by Heggie resulted in a Strathhaven score wide on the right. The conversion was missed.

Killie were beginning to come into the match with strong driving play. In 21 minutes after a driving maul into strathaven 22, the ball went out the line to Dylan Spiers on the wing, with 2 defenders to beat, he trusted his strength and pace to round defence and score near the posts, an excellent team try. Ruaridh Moss,s conversion attempt drifted wide.

THe Killie boys were on top at this point with an excellent performance from our stand in front row Euan Cochrane, captain Jack Gemmill and Matthew Cowan. In 24 minutes following broken play on the half way line scrum half Stewart Cuthbertson, who was a livewire all match, drew the cover defence to send Jack McLean on a strong 40 metre run to score wide left . The conversion proved out of Moss,s range. Killie were more than holding their own in scrum and lineout, with Lewis Young prominent in driving several mauls securing Killie put in. However on 30 minutes a powerful run by heavyweight Strathaven prop Muirhead, aided by some ineffectual Killie tackling resulted in centre Dixon taking the pop pass to crash over under the posts .Kennedy goaled.

Half time Strathaven 17 KRFC 10

Killie turned to play up the hill, however they were encouraged by the brave return of full back Strachan. Despite good interplay by backs and forwards Killie were twice robbed of possession in the tackle and following good play Strathaven flanker Heggie scored tries in the 35th and 38th minutes. The match see-sawed with play going end to end with once again the Killie pack showing well at scrum time. A mention to blair campbell for his efforts at No8 (as a one man back row )On the 50th minute good play by centres McVey and Chamberlain brought a strong run by Angus Kerr, from the resultant ruck Mathew Cowan picked up, drove through the ruck and raced 10 metres to score wide on the left. Again the conversion proved out of range for the stand off.Despite this excellent team score Killie spent the remainder of the match camped in their 22. fWith 2 minutes remaining following lineout possession Strathaven fed the ball out the line to be halted by the Killie defence in midfield, good interplay by Strathaven forwards resulted in hooker McVeigh driving over from 2 metres with 4 Killie tacklers hanging onto him. Despite the Killie boys best efforts he managed to securely ground the ball on the line. Despite Killies McLean protestations to Irish referee that ball was held up, Killie coach Wallace confirmed to referee grounding was secure. A lesson to all to use our lung capacity for running than talking! The conversion was missed.

Final Score Strathaven 34 KRFC 15