With the hitherto unusually absent high wind blowing straight down the pitch, Mark Billingham’s decision as Lasswade captain to play into it in the first half was brave but maybe foolhardy.

In the event his confidence in his players was fully vindicated when they restricted East Kilbride to three points albeit without scoring themselves in the first 40 and then took EK apart with five tries in the second.

The wind was the only spoiler on a bright, dry afternoon and perfect pitch. EK used it to good effect to gain territory and regain it whenever Lasswade countered. Their overall strategy was, however, too heavily dependent on their bulky forwards, with the ball seldom moving far away from them.

The hosts proved more than equal to this game plan and showed much broader ambition when the opportunities arose. Moving the ball wide Hennessey, Blair and Hall in particular among the backs showed up the Kilbride vulnerabilities in this area.

Having tapped or touchlined a couple of earlier kickable penalties in the hope of crossing the line, Calum Blackwood took a successful shot at goal with the last kick of the first half.

Within three minutes of the restart, Borthwick gathered a loose ball on the Lasswade 22 created a 2on 1 situation on the left wing with a burst of speed and released Hall to show his pace to the Killie line.

Three minutes later Douglas Hearn showed why he was Lasswade’s man-of-the match with a stolen ball and a break from 40metres out that was stopped just 10metres from the line. Quick ball, whisked toward the centre, gave Sinclair a fairly simple route to the posts for Elliot to convert. 12-3.

EK steadied a little bit but any time they did make progress into the Lasswade half, Hennessey made full use of the wind to take them back again to their own 22. On just such an occasion, as the hour approached Lasswade caught and drove from a lineout 20metres out and were only stopped inches from the line. Robertson was on hand to play acting scrum half and finished the job off. Elliot’s conversion extended the lead to 19-3.

The visitors were reeling by now and it only took a few more minutes for Lasswade to turn over a scrum in the EK 22 and Hennessey drove in under the posts for the bonus try and another Elliot conversion.

That looked to be it but as the clock ticked into stoppage time, Lasswade turned over another scrum and Robertson picked up to barge and drive the 15 metres to the post with a couple of EK hangers-on still not able to stop him. Elliot’s conversion rounded off a near perfect second half.

East Kilbride slip to seventh place while Lasswade, take over their fourth place just six points behind Preston Lodge who now share the lead with Dumfries following the latter’s surprise defeat at previously winless Dunfermline.

This Saturday Lasswade take the short trip to Murrayfield Wanderers who have just two draws and five points from eight games and are propping up the whole Division. Kick-off time has now moved to 2.00pm..