Dunfermline crush Harris to put heat on league leaders

With league leaders Strathmore out of action, second-placed Dunfermline did all they could to keep the pressure on the Tennent’s Caledonia Division One pacesetters with a crushing win over Harris at McKane Park.

The Elliott Road men had received a boost seven days earlier when they posted their first win of the campaign.

However, they again struggled to field a team and suffered a string of injuries during the game, making it a straightforward victory for the free-scoring home side.

The first try came within seconds of the kick off and by half time, Dunfie were 57-0 in the lead.

Although the rate of scoring slowed in the second period, Harris lost five men to injury and by the 60th minute had only 12 players left standing. The loss of another man 10 minutes from full time prompted the referee to call a premature halt to proceedings with the score at 90-0.

The win leaves Dunfie 12 points behind Strathie ahead of Saturday’s clash of the top two at Inchmacoble.

Blairgowrie pulled six points clear at the summit of Division Two (Midlands) after beating Stirling Accies 24-18 in the topof-the-table clash at JJ Coupar Park.

Third-placed Carnoustie took advantage of that result, returning from the trip to face Panmure with a 22-0 win that means they now sit only two points adrift of Stirling.

In the day’s other game, Dundee University Medics hosted Madras, the Medics emerging 29-24 winners to remain fifth.

Dundee Morgan increased their lead in Division Three (Midlands), thanks to a bonus point win at home to Arbroath and a second successive defeat for nearest challengers Rosyth Sharks.

Morgan bagged seven tries in a 39-7 success, with Taylor Smith and Iain Lockhart each claiming a double, while there was one apiece for Craig Shearer, Josh Steadwood and Gregor Mitchell, with Niall Hall kicking two conversions. Meanwhile, Rosyth returned from their trip to Anstruther nursing a 33-24 loss at the hands of Waid.

Division Four Midlands leaders Dunfermline seconds won 39-15 away to Hillfoots while Montrose won 54-14 win at Perthshire seconds. Glenrothes’ Development side won at Bo’ness 54-10.