Strathendrick RFC pile on the heat in icy weather

Dec 9 2011 by Tom Yuill, Stirling Observer Friday

Strathencrick 36 Cumbernauld 7

THE weather relented enough to allow Endrick's league match to go ahead but there were clear signs that the river had been over the pitch so that the going was bound to be a test of stamina.

A chilling wind and wintry showers were also around and before the kick- off the referee gathered all the players together to advise them of the early symptons of hypothermia. Fortunately the heat generated on the pitch made that warning unnecessary.

Endrick kicked off and made immediate tracks for the visitors' line. Cumby resisted the initial onslaught but the home pressure paid off after four minutes, when defenders were given offside and Sam Greenock opened the scoring from the penalty.

The 3-0 lead lasted barely a minute. Cumbernauld's restart kick was safely gathered by Endrick and they set off on the counter with a passing move along the back line. The final pass, which would have sent Steven Bastock away, was thrown straight to a Cumbernauld player who was left with an easy run to the posts for a try and a simple conversion.

With ten minutes played Endrick regained the lead, again from a penalty. This time a quick tap and a jinking run let Sam Greenock in for his first try of the season. He celebrated by landing the conversion.

Given the conditions, there were only occasional opportunities for the runners to show their talents and the game mainly featured the forwards. There was little difference in weight between the packs but Endrick’s eight were more mobile and seemed to be more committed.

Their second try was delivered in 24 minutes when Dave McGuffie stormed over the line to touch down. Sam Greenock was again on target with his kick. Five minutes later another powerhouse in the shape of Mark Scott drove over for a third try, to which Sam Greenock added the extras.

Endrick immediately forced their way back into Cumbernauld territory, winning a couple of penalties. Sam Greenock tried to break through from the first but was thwarted. When a second chance came his way he took a quick tap and eluded the attentions of the Cumbernauld defence for the fourth try to earn the bonus point. That score also took his personal tally of points for the season beyond the 100 mark. After all that he missed the conversion but Endrick turned round with a healthy 29-7 lead.

Cumbernauld kicked off the second half and the opening exchanges were mainly in Endrick territory.

After five minutes the Fintry men broke away when Mark Scott won the ball and released Ewan MacKay just inside the Endrick half. The Pieman shrugged off a couple of tackles and showed a commendable turn of speed, followed by a tidy chip, to gain 40 metres before Cumbie's cover stopped the advance.

A penalty to Endrick was quickly taken and a feed to Dave McGuffie produced a fifth try for the homesters. Sam Greenock converted.

In the last 35 minutes of the match Endrick fielded all five replacements. They continued to enjoy most of the territory and possession, reached the visitors' line several times but were not able to add to their score.

In the end they were happy to record for the first time two league victories against Cumbernauld in a season.

ENDRICK: C Ferguson, S Bastock, G Johnstone, K Campbell, P Sunderland, D MacDonald, S Greenock, M Scott, S Forsyth, C Gibson, D McEwan, D McGuffie, J Ogilvy, D Brown and E.MacKay, repl: G Davies, W Kay, D Porteous, D Spence and G Yuill.

Cambuslang's match with Helensburgh was postponed so Endrick's win and the bonus point take them clear at the top of the table. Both have games in hand but Endrick know that they have the points in the bag.