Strathmore campaign is off to a flyer

Strathmore are the early pacesetters in Caledonia Division One after a 38-22 win away to Hillfoots.

The Inchmacoble men had the bonus point secured by half time, which they reached with a 31-12 lead. And though the hosts had the better of the second period, bagging the four try bonus two minutes from the end, the visitors were well in charge and, after two rounds of fixtures, have a three point advantage at the top of the table.

Glenrothes sit second, despite going down by a single point in the Fife derby at Dunfermline in a tense encounter.

Glenrothes reached the break with a 14-9 lead. Callum Kennedy grabbed two tries and Kain Duguid converted both, while Adam Fraser booted three penalties for the hosts.

An interception try by Kennedy, converted by Duguid, increased the visitors’ advantage before Dunfermline scored a converted try by Ryan Vidler.

And the hosts snatched the lead with a touchdown from Manoa Satala, with Fraser again adding the extra two points before slotting another penalty.

There was more drama to come and Kennedy continued his one-man try scoring onslaught when he dotted down for the fourth time. Duguid’s conversion put the away side into a two-point lead.

Fraser then calmly landed a drop goal to secure the 29-28 victory for Dunfermline, leaving Glenrothes with two bonus points as consolation.

There was further disappointment for Harris, who remain pointless after losing 19-9 away to Aberdeen Wanderers.

Meanwhile, three sides have a perfect 10 points from two matches in Midlands Division Two. Blairgowrie were the day’s big winners, breaching the 100-point barrier without reply in their match at home to Madras.

Blair occupy top spot on points difference ahead of Panmure, who saw off Stirling Accies 36-27 at Broughty Ferry. Carnoustie also chalked up a second successive bonus point win when they got the better of Kirkcaldy seconds 38-14 at Beveridge Park. The day’s other match saw Dundee University Medics kick off their league programme with a 32-18 success at home to Kinross.

In Division Three Dundee Morgan were 83-29 winners over the Angus Development side, while Rosyth Sharks saw off Arbroath 48-7.

In Division Four, Dunfermline seconds enjoyed a 45-27 win at Montrose, while Glenrothes Development side edged out Bannockburn 22-20.