Kirkcaldy six clear after seeing off Dumfries

When the two sides emerged to do battle at Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy led BT National 2 opponents Dumfries by one point, making this a crucial encounter for both sides.

Kirkcaldy had lost 31-24 at Park Farm but made no mistake this time, running out 39-12 winners to go six points clear with a game in hand.

The home side were 24-12 ahead at the break with Dumfries notching tries from Gavin Wilson and Ryan Cruikshank and Gavin Kerr slotting a conversion but that was the last they were to shift the visitors’ side of the scoreboard.

Josh Laird, who had been out injured for most of the season, celebrated his return to the side with a hat-trick while Greg Wallace and Dayle Turner grabbed one each and with Finlay Smith racking up 14 points with four conversions and two penalties, Kirkcaldy showed just why they must now be favourites for both promotion and the title.

At Burnbrae, Howe of Fife were trailing by 6-5 at half-time thanks to two Pete Burns penalties for West of Scotland but the visitors cranked up a gear or two after the break to clinch a bonus point win by 27-6.

Will Wardlow had the first-half try for Howe then Ryan Milne, Connor Crawford, Duncan McIntyre and Graham Thomson touched down in the second half with Fraser Ellison landing one conversion.

Howe are now in seventh spot in the table and lie four points behind fifthplaced Peebles and, with a trip to the Gytes next up for the Duffus Park men next Saturday, this could be one to savour.

For all their efforts at North Inch, Perthshire had only a Callum Croughan try to show for their efforts in the BT National 3 clash with St Boswells, going down 38-5.

It doesn’t get any easier for Shire, who travel next week to Glasgow Accies who sit second in the table but are three points behind Newton Stewart with two games in hand.

Will Wardlow bagged first-half try for Howe in their bonus point win over West of Scotland.