Uddingston RFC travelled to Tillicoultry last Saturday to play Hillfoots, who until last season were in National Division 3. This was the Villagers third friendly of their pre-season programme and having been successful in their two previous games, travelled with an air of optimism.

The Villagers gave a good account of themselves particularly in the first quarter when they dominated the game. However, despite playing in a tight yet resourceful manner and enjoying most of the territorial advantage in the first half, it was the home side that eventually took control by upping their game in the second half, demonstrating greater pace and ball control in open play. This was to the detriment of the visitors who struggled in the final quarter of the game to assert themselves as an attacking force and Hillfoots took full advantage of that situation to run out well deserved winners claiming a 33-14 victory.

The home side opened the scoring in the 15th minute, having secured the ball in open play it was shipped neatly across the park to the waiting full back who took it on the final 10 meters to touch down over the line. The conversion was on target giving Hillfoots a 7-0 lead.

It took the Villagers until the 30th minute to secure their opening try which came from Captain Iain Beresford. The visitors had the opposition under pressure just 10 meters out from their line and were moving the ball tightly between players whilst gaining ground at the same time. Just 5 meters short of the line, Beresford was in possession and with good pack pressure managed to exploit a gap in Hillfoots defence to take the ball over. Gordon Burns slotted the conversion and the score was all even at 7-7.

Just minutes short of half time, Hillfoots secured their second try of the game following a fixed penalty move just 5 meters out from the visitor’s line.
The Villagers defence was not quick enough to close the gaps and this enabled the home side to take the ball over near the corner. The conversion went wide and the half time score was 12-7.

With the second half well underway, the Villagers persevered to make up for lost ground, but it was the home side who were first to add more points to their score by securing a further converted try in the 55th minute increasing their lead to 19-7. However, just five minutes later, the visitors seized their chance to narrow the points gap. Brendan Cairns took possession of the ball and catching the opposition by surprise, charged from within his own half down the wing at pace to touch down under the posts. Burns was once again on target with the conversion and the score stood at 19-14.

With everything to play for, the Villagers struggled to contain the fast paced advances and slick ball handling of Hillfoots and the opposition secured two converted tries in the final quarter of the game to run out clear winners at
33-14.

This Thursday, 26/08, the Villager’s 1st XV face Dalziel 2nds in another pre-season fixture (7pm) while on Saturday Uddingston’s 2nd XV are on duty as they travel to Cumbernauld to play their opening 2nd XV league match of the season. Kick off 3pm.