Dundee High keep top-six hopes alive with derby win

Only pride was at stake when Howe of Fife took on Dundee High Rugby at Duffus Park in BT National 1 – but pride in a derby match can count for an awful lot.

Dundee had won the previous encounter at Mayfield by 24-19, a game in which Howe had gleaned one of the few bonus points they collected in a season during which they have managed only two wins from 21 starts.

It looked at one point as though they were about to at least avenge that defeat and clinch their third win of the campaign but in the end it was not to be.

Wing Ronan Joy opened the scoring for Dundee, with Fraser McKay slotting the conversion, but Howe hit back with a try from Fraser Ellison – converted by Dom Martin – then a Stewart Lathangie try, again converted by Martin, stretched their lead to 14-7 at half time.

After the break Josh Rutnagur’s unconverted try reduced the margin to two points but Martin ghosted through for a try, converted it and extended Howe’s lead to nine points.

Alas, that was their final fling as Dundee flanker Dayle Turner burst over for try number three. McKay converted and then did the same after full back Danny McGinn re-established the lead for Dundee.

Howe were even denied a losing bonus after lock Jack Anderson dived over for McKay to convert and the final 33-21 scoreline was another disappointment in a season which has had too many for Howe.

They are now bound for BT National 2 next season where they will have a chance to regroup.

Dundee, who have three matches to play, still have the chance of a top-six finish.

At Poynder Park, Kelso needed to repeat their win over Kirkcaldy earlier in the season to consolidate their second spot in BT National 2 and maintain their lead over thirdplaced Peebles, which they did with an emphatic win at Beveridge Park.

The Borderers were ahead 19-7 at the break and went on to notch six tries in their eventual 36-12 victory.

Wing Gregg Minto had a hat-trick for the home side with Donald Seed grabbing a brace of touchdowns and Angus Roberts claiming the sixth, with Phil Hume nailing two conversions and Greg Ponton one.

Connor Wood had Kirkcaldy’s first-half try with Craig Letham converting but Finlay Bruce’s effort in the second half was the only time the visitors shifted their side of the scoreboard after the break ,

At least Kirkcaldy are safe in BT National 2 and live to fight another season.

Both Livingston and Perthshire are relegated from BT National 3 so there was virtually nothing at stake when they met at Almond Park but that didn’t stop Livingston notching up a 30-22 victory.