After 6 weeks without a game, Kilmarnock welcomed Hamilton to Bellsland for a friendly.

With only 13 players available due to a number of injuries and work commitments, 2 Hamilton players joined our back line on either wing for a 15 aside game.

The first half was a fine performance from the young Killie team. Killie’s opening try came from good hands across the back line to Thomas Dunlop who was playing 13. He took the ball and hit the gap between Hamiltons 13/14 inside his own half, turned on the gas and stepped the full back to run in uncontested to score close to the posts. Thomas converting his own try to put the home team up 7-0.

Killie’s second try followed soon after from a fine set play. From there own line out on Hamilton’s 10m line, Logan Hendrie found a leaping Andrew Bryson in the middle of the line. Andrew fired one off the top to Cullan Urquhart at 9, who zipped a pass out to Max Neil at 10. Following a fine hard line dummy run by Frazer Sands, Max Neil delayed the pass, drew two defenders and popped to Thomas who hit the gap at speed, stepped two defenders before rounding the the full back and evading the chasing defence to score out wide in the corner.

Thomas took the conversion out wide and slotted the ball between the middle of the posts for a 14-0 lead.

Killie were on the ascendency and were soon on the scoresheet again. Under pressure from a rushing defence, Thomas kicked a peach of a ball from inside his own 10m line that travelled through the air before landing and bouncing out on Hamilton’s 5m line - a 50/22 and an attacking line out to Killie.

Josh Provan took control, and after a small conflab, Logan found Josh at the front of the line with fine catch and drive. The ball was worked back to Logan who timed his break well to score out in the corner. Thomas stepping up to convert and curling one again between the centre of the posts from the touch line - 28-0.

The final score of the half fell to Hamilton, who capitalised following a Killie dropped ball inside their own 10m. Hamilton fullback picked up the ball and attacked the space, and with no one home, scored in the corner. Conversion missed and 28-5 halftime.

After 5 mins of Hamilton pressure in the Second half, Kilmarnock were soon back into their stride. After some fine forward play, the ball was popped to Max, who put a cross field kick out to Frazer to collect, and using Cameron Cottrell on his outside as a dummy run, fooled the last defender to run in for try number 4. Thomas converting again from out wide to lead 28-5.

The pressure continued on the Hamilton defence, and following a series of attempts on the visitors line, the ball was passed to Thomas, who put in a cross field kick to the grateful hands of Max, who drew his defender out wide before popping inside to Josh, galloping through in support on the inside, to score the 5th and final try. Thomas converting from out wide again for a final score of 35-5.

Huge thank you to Hamilton for coming through and also for providing a couple of players to enable a 15 aside game to go ahead. It’s always en enjoyable game against Hamilton, played in the right spirit and we wish them well in their forthcoming Quaich Final v Howe of Fife.

Today’s try scorers were Thomas Dunlop (x2), Logan Hendrie, Frazer Sands and Josh Provan. Thomas also with a perfect kicking record of 5/5 conversions.

Today’s man of match: Thomas Dunlop.