Rugby: Kilmarnock lose on the road to Allan Glens

Nov 9 2012 by Lizzie Smith, Kilmarnock Standard

Allan Glens 27 Kilmarnock 12 RBS West Div 1

Kilmarnock lost on the road to Allan Glens on Saturday for a third defeat in a row.

Little went the way of the visitors who misfielded from the switch kick-off which allowed Glens to force a scrum five. At the second attempt, Glens won the scrum and moved the ball from stand-off to centre for a converted try close to the posts, giving them a 7-0 lead after only two minutes.

The teams played a kick and chase game in the next 10 minutes with Kilmarnock losing two converted penalties to go behind 13-0.

Kilmarnock gradually gained composure and despite several failed backline moves, the forwards forced play into the Glens 22 area. Graeme Dick led a charge to the line, forcing a scrum five metres short. The Kilmarnock scrum pushed over with Dave McLeod credited the try, converted by Colin Sturgeon. The score was 13-7 after half an hour.

MacKenzie Pearce won a couple of penalties and John Brown won a turnover ball to keep Glens at bay for the rest of the first half.

After the break, Gordon Laurie replaced Greg Andrew. From the first scrum, the number eight picked up and gained ground, the ball was passed to stand-off Sturgeon who broke through the defence but the ball was dropped inches from the tryline and Glens kicked clear.

Kilmarnock pressed but a promising backline faltered as a stray pass was dropped and intercepted by Glens who raced 50metres to score a second coverted try for a 20-7 lead.

Taylor McHarg replaced Kieran Grant in the second row as the Kilmarnock scrum came under pressure. Scrum half Lauder was harried by his opposite number and rescued the day with an interception to mount an attack from defence, he passed to Sturgeon who was engulfed and luckily won a scrum. The stand-off kicked and was late tackled which was ignored allowing Glens to counter attack.

In a frantic spell, Kilmarnock were given three consecutive penalties which they tapped to break out of defence. A Kilmarnock lineout was lost and the influential Glens scrum half kicked upfield and the forwards gave chase and encamped in the Kilmarnock 22 area.

A scrum five put Kilmarnock under further pressure and the ball was readily shipped to the inside centre who burst through for another converted try, 27-7 with five minutes remaining.

Gordon Laurie left the field with a rib injury and Greg Andrew returned.

In the last move, Kilmarnock fielded a Glens kick with Sturgeon making ground, passing to centre Greg Montgomery who raced upfield with young winger Sam Diamond in support to collect a pass and sweep round the defence to score in the corner. Sturgeon missed the conversion 27-12.

Coach Robbie Stewart says his side will be more prepared and committed for Saturday’s home game against Annan in the West Regional Shield Competition. Kick-off is 1.30pm.