Kilmarnock U18s welcomed Bishopton U18s to Bellsland for their third league match of the season.

Full of confidence from an impressive win the week before, the home team were keen to keep their momentum moving in the right direction and boy did they deliver!

After a competitive opening 10 mins, the young Killie team started to pressure the visitors through some fine direct running and support play by a forward pack, growing in strength and confidence each week.

Directed well by Max Neill at 10, and a very industrious Cullan Urquhart at 9, the ball
was often shipped out at pace to a back line who looked hungry and were potent on the front foot. Direct running from Frazer Sands at 12 and support from Max Cardoo at 13 caused the Bishopton defence lots of trouble throughout the game, with Ricky Cruz da Fonte and Adam Scott unlucky not be on the scoreline outside, with some good defence play by the visitors.

After a nervy game last week in his first run out at 15, Cameron Cottrell showed his cool and class with some great takes of the high ball, good positioning and great footwork and attacking prowess - what a way to respond!

It was the forward pack though that were once again impressive, scoring 8 of the 10 try’s, with the first coming from second row Josh Provan, who was like a galloping gazelle charging through to score out wide for the first try of the game. A fine conversion followed from Max Neill from wide on the touchline.

Another forward having an impressive game was Harrison Gillies, both in defence and attack. Harrison was often first to the breakdown and did a power of work carrying in contact. Harrison was rewarded with one of the best worked try’s or the day from a training ground move. A good catch and drive from a lineout move made its way back to Harrison, who picked his timing well to break and score.

Max Neill continues to develop at 10 a with fine bit of vision, chipped the ball over the onrushing Bishopton defence for the ever impressive Frazer Sands to race through and catch the ball perfectly to score below the posts.

Callum Howe played his part in a fine front row, alongside Luke McCready and Murray Imrie (Adam Khwada also coming on and playing well), which gave a good platform for the back line to attack.

Callum was also awarded with a good try. Luke McCready making one of his usual rampaging runs before offloading to a grateful Callum who ran a great supporting line to run home and score from 22m line..prop on the run!

Not to be outdone, by his second row partner, Andrew Bryson also scored a fine try, with a fine pick up and drive from the breakdown.

Max Cardoo, playing his first full game after injury, continued to impress in his new position, attacking the gap and using his pace and strength to score under some last gasp defence from 40 meters out…Adam
might have liked the offload though on the outside for the easy run in.

Harrison and Josh both scored again , before a popular try from Allan Brodie, scoring his first for the team from a crash over the line from a 5 metre penalty. Allan only started playing rugby through Tartan Touch over the summer and his try is just rewards for his hard work and development.

Another couple of players growing in confidence with each game are Angus McCance who started at 7 this week and Ross Boyd, who replaced him at half time.

Final try was a third for Josh Provan, driving through the visitors defence and showing a good bit of pace to score from 10m out.

Max Neill converted 7/10 conversions.

Big thank you to our visitors who never gave up and scored a good consolation try towards the end of the game. They could have had a couple more but were thwarted by some good defensive work by Killie on their own try line, working to hold the ball and man up on 3 occasions.

Bishoptons 10 and 15 were their stand out players and we wish them well for the remainder of the season.

Try scorers were Josh Provan (x3), Harrison Gillies (x2), Andrew Bryson, Callum Howe, Allan Brodie, Frazer Sands and Max Cardoo.

Max Neill slotting 7/10 conversions.

Man of Match - Josh Provan