Biggar effort leaves Dundee in seventh

Dundee Rugby’s hopes of moving into the top half of the Tennents National League One were dashed with another close loss to old rivals Biggar.

The Mayfield side could have leapfrogged their visitors in the table as the second half of the league schedule began, and they were 11-7 to the good at half-time.

But two tries to the Lanarkshiremen to one from Dundee in the second 40 leaves the home side seventh, with a tough fixture against league leaders Kelso at Poynder Park next up.

In National Two Kirkcaldy hosted second place Falkirk and Beveridge Park and were edged despite a furious late comeback.

It was a back-and-forth tussle that saw the Blues twice head in the first half but pegged back each time.

Falkirk pulled ahead 24-12 only for two more unconverted tries from Kirkcaldy to draw them to within two points late in the game.

But the bonus point double for four tries scored and a close loss was as much as the Blues could get, leaving them in seventh place in the division with a game in hand.

In National Three, Howe of Fife stay fourth after a six-try, 39-14 defeat of Whitecraigs at Duffus. The Howe even shrugged off a red card to flanker Chris Mcnab, and stay in the dogfight for promotion behind runaway division leaders Gordonians.

Perthshire made the protracted trip to Orkney by ferry and air but got little change from the Islanders who stormed to a 50-12 win. Strathmore earned a try bonus point at Hughenden against Hillhead Jordanhill and stay in sixth place.

League-leading Dunfermline’s Caley One clash with Aberdeen Wanderers was postponed. In Division Two Midlands Carnoustie stay top with their eighth win out of eight, a 40-10 win at the Dundee Uni Medics.

Second played third on the south pitch at Mayfield and Dundee IIS took it over Kinross 24-5. Glenrothes hang in there in fourth with a narrow 17-12 over Falkirk’s 2nd XV.

In Caley Three, Howe Crusaders remain top with a 100% record of six wins, all with try bonus point, the latest a 35-8 win at Bannockburn.

Again, second played third and Dunfermline IIS crushed Crieff and Strathearn to take second place.

Nat One: Dundee 16 Biggar 21

Nat Two: Kirkcaldy 22 Falkirk 24

Nat Three: Howe of Fife 39 Whitecraigs 14, Orkney 50 Perthshire 12, Hillhead Jordanhill 35 Strathmore 25

Caledonia One: Dunfermline v Aberdeen Wanderers ppd

Caledonia Midlands Two: Blairgowrie 22 Panmure 9, Dundee IIS 26 Kinross 5, Dundee University Medics 10 Carnoustie HSFP 40, Glenrothes 17 Falkirk IIS 12, Harris Academy FP 5 Madras 52

Caledonia Midlands Three: Aberfeldy 79 Perthshire IIS 22, Bannockburn 8 Howe Crusaders 35, Crieff and Strathearn 22 Dunfermline IIS 66, Waid FP 21 Rosyth Sharks 36.