Howe shocked in Fife derby

According to one veteran Kirkcaldy watcher, it has been a very long time since the Beveridge Park outfit have beaten Howe of Fife in the league but they pulled that off in their BT National 2 opener on their own patch on Saturday.

It was not the result that would have been predicted after losing 38-24 in round one of the BT National Cup to Saturday’s opponents at Duffus Park last week, but Kirkcaldy upped their game for the league clash.

They turned a 14-5 half-time lead into a bonus-clinching 28-17 win and although Howe came back into the game in the second half Kirkcaldy held their nerve and ran in another couple of tries to guarantee maximum points.

Finlay Bruce and Scott Anderson had the home side’s two first-half tries, Rory Brown and Dayle Turner added the second-half scores, while Craig Letham knocked over all four conversions.

It was not the league start relegated Howe had hoped for and tries from James Lawrie, Chris Mann and Will Wardlaw, with Fraser Ellison landing one conversion, was not enough to even take away a losing bonus.

Having been restored to BT National 3 after last season’s relegation – due to machinations in Edinburgh involving RHC leaving a spot open – Perthshire could not have made a worse start to their season.

Having had to withdraw from last week’s BT National Cup first round due to lack of players, they were at the receiving end of a 66-17 thumping at the hands of Gordonians at North Inch. Craig Miller scored two tries and David Paxton one, while Jon Armitt landed a conversion.