Endrick run up huge victory

Oct 17 2008

STRATHENDRICK67

CUMNOCK0

AN OVERNIGHT change in the weather and some very hard work by Ian Bruce on Saturday morning produced an eminently playable surface for Endrick's league match.

Following their hard-earned win a week ago, the Fintry men were determined that they had got over their poor start and would now set about improving their league position. Well-established players Bruce Duncan, Mark Gibson and Ewan Mackay were not available but their absence was compensated for by the return to the ranks of Scott McCabe, Steven Bastock and Duncan McEwan.

Once again an early drop goal put Endrick ahead, Kyle Campbell showing that he has been studying the Bruce Duncan method with an accurate kick from 25 metres after only three minutes. The Endrick pack then roared into the game and five minutes later they drove over the visitors' line, Tam McNeill touching down for an unconverted try.

With Endrick gaining possession at almost every set-piece, their back division had ample opportunity to stretch their legs. Some sweeping moves using the width of the pitch preceded the second try, which was scored by Stuart McGill after 21 minutes. Kyle Campbell added the extra points.

That was quickly followed by a take from a lineout which led to a bullocking run by Dave McGuffie, taken on by Duncan McEwan and finished off by Dougie Porteous. Kyle Campbell was again on target with the conversion.

On the half-hour mark Cumnock got the ball into the Endrick 22 for the first time in the game but they lacked the power or the guile to go further and Endrick were soon back on the offensive. Another bright handling move left them with a three-man overlap but the final pass to Stuart McGill was deemed to have gone forward and a certain score was missed.

It was only a temporary delay and a repeat performance allowed the winger to go over at the corner for his second try just before the break. Endrick turned round in the happy position of holding a 27-0 lead with the try bonus already assured.

They showed that they had no intention of leaving it at that and inside a minute Scott McCabe proved that he was well and truly back with a jinking run and a sprint to the posts which left Kyle Campbell with the easiest kick of the afternoon.

From the restart Dave McGuffie again charged at the visitors, making a lot of ground before finding support in Sandy Cuthbertson. He handed on to James McLaughlin, who was delighted to score his first league try. Kyle Campbell was again on target with the kick.

The blitz continued. Dougie Porteous charged down an attempted clearance and Dave McGuffie was on hand to fasten on the loose ball to cap a fine display with a well deserved try. Kyle Campbell's kick from the touchline just missed but in 26 minutes he more than made up for that with a try and conversion which took Endrick's tally beyond the half-century.

Final passes which were judged to have gone forward twice thwarted Stuart McGill. Scott McCabe made sure that there would be no repeat by keeping the ball in hand in a race from his own half to the Cumnock try line.

In the final minute a textbook number eight pick-up and drive by Steven O'Brien opened the way for Dougie Porteous to take the try count into double figures. Both late tries were converted by Kyle Campbell to take his personal points total to 22 in a 67-0 win.

Cumnock were game to the end but their inability to compete for the ball in any area made it all very easy for Endrick. Nevertheless the Fintry men made good use of their possession and many of their points came from play which would have caused problems for more experienced sides than Saturday's opponents.

ENDRICK: S McCabe (capt); R. Mair, S Bastock, T Whitaker, S McGill; K Campbell, D Porteous; S Cuthbertson, T McNeill, C Moir, D McEwan, J McLaughlin, D McGuffie, M Braceland and S O'Brien, repl. A Christie, G McAlpine and A Turner.

On Saturday Endrick are away to GHK in a league fixture. If Endrick are able to take anything from this match it will prove they will indeed have turned the corner. The match starts at 3pm.

With the rain-swollen waters of the Endrick covering most of the seconds' pitch on Friday, it was decided to postpone Saturday's match against Newton Stewart. This week the seconds play GHK 2nds at Fintry. The match starts at 3pm.