Blues chase promotion date away at Preston Lodge

The course is now fairly clear for Kirkcaldy in their battle to win BT National League Two and gain promotion, with Prestonpans the last staging post before the big one in two weeks.

The Blues made a surprising bit of history two weeks ago when the last-gasp try by Rhys Bonner secured their first win over Kingdom rivals Howe of Fife at Duffus Park since league rugby began in 1973.

With Lasswade beating the Howe somewhat more comfortably last week, Kirkcaldy’s advantage at the top now is nine points with eight games to play.

Certainly a whole lot can happen in eight games, but second-placed Lasswade are at Beveridge Park next week in what should be a decisive fixture, given that the Blues have only one away match left to any of the sides in hailing distance, that being to fifthplace Biggar.

In the meantime they need at least a four-pointer from second bottom Preston Lodge, with most of their rivals having home bankers.

In National One Dundee High still lie fifth, but their prospects for the spring had diminished with the two home defeats in three weeks to Border raiders from Kelso and Gala.

A seven-try win at Falkirk last week was a morale booster and there’s the opportunity for another against second-bottom Stewarts Melville this week, although the Inverleith club are desperate for points and have plenty incentive to maintain their strong home record against High in recent seasons.

Perthshire’s only win of the year so far was a crucial one, the 50-10 thrashing of Dalziel which lifted them on to 18 points, eight clear of the relegation zone in National Three. This week’s visitors are Hillhead Jordanhill, lying a place above but 14 points better off.

In Caledonia Division One Caithness have pulled away from the pack to 13 points lead over Strathmore, on the back of a run of 10 successive wins dating from their only loss on the opening day of the season.

Strathmore are still the lead chasers, although any chance they had of catching the Northerners probably went with the loss to Alloa last week. Certainly this week the leaders will not be detained long at rockbottom Banff. Fixtures in tomorrow’s the sport supplement.