Uddingston Rugby Club still top league after home victory

The Villagers went ahead on 15 minutes when McKeown latched onto an offload from Jordan to crash over at the posts. Kidd slotted the conversion for an early 7-0 lead.

The visitors then hit back to turn over possession and score in the corner. The conversion was missed.

But Uddingston extended their lead when their pack drove the maul over the whitewash where Connor McMillan touched down at the rear.

Kidd pulled the conversion but the home side went in at half-time leading 12-7.

A converted try for Strathaven put them 14-12 ahead before Keith Bradley’s brace of tries which allowed the Villagers to regain the lead and push ahead at 24-14.

On 57 minutes, Uddingston were penalised for a high tackle, but some loose talk saw them marched back a further 10 metres.

Strathaven reacted quickly and took the tap, broke the tackle and scored in the corner.

The conversion was off target but suddenly the 10-point lead was cut in half.

And Strathaven took control again four minutes later.

With the Strathaven pack in the ascendency they got the important nudge, allowing the number eight to pick from the base and power over.

The conversion split the uprights and it was game on with Strathaven now holding a two-point advantage, and 18 minutes still to play.

The Villagers’ winning try came from man of the match Ross McKeown, claiming his second.

With no joy coming from the laboured rumbles of the forwards the ball was quickly moved where it found McKeown arriving at considerable pace to burst through the despairing tackles.

Kidd slotted the conversion for 31-26 and Uddy held on.

This Saturday, Uddingston have a league game at Lenzie, kick-off 3pm.