RHU Colts manager Jamie Kjorstad insisted he wasn’t too disheartened despite seeing his team crash out of the Glasgow Colleges AFL League Cup at the first round stage on Saturday.

The Colts travelled to Beith to face Premier League side Clydeside Athletic for what, despite some good recent results, looked like the Rhu lads’ toughest test this season – and so it proved as the home side won 8-1.

The first half in particular was a bit of a lesson for the Rhu side as their opponents opened up a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes with some slick passing moves – and though the visitors steadied the ship, they were hit by two more Clydeside goals late in the first half, both from corner kicks and both of which should probably have been dealt with better.

A more compact set-up after the interval made it more difficult for Clydeside to move the ball about on the slick 4G surface, but the Rhu lads still had to work their socks off to keep the hosts at bay.

They lost a fifth goal ten minutes after the break but to their credit never gave up and their hard work and tenacity paid off when Dale Walker knocked the ball home from close range to extend his fine scoring run to eight goals in four games.

Rhu continued to chase the game, but with fitness levels dropping off in the latter stages of the game it was no surprise that the hosts saw the game out with three further goals before the final whistle.

Kjorstad said afterwards: “We were up against one of this season’s potential Premier League winners, so we knew we were going to be up against it, and so it proved – but despite a sticky first half the boys responded well.

“They will learn from this and can see the levels they have to reach to push themselves for the remainder of the season.”

Squad: Lewis, Kjorstad, Brown, Caldow, Moy, Maule, Welsh, Brown, Burch, Walker, Thomson, McColl, Sinclair, Young, Cameron, Ross

This Saturday, March 4, it’s back to league business as the Colts travel to Glasgow to face River Nevis (KO 10am).