Rampant Kelso are too strong for Kirkcaldy

Due to Lasswade failing to trap for their previous tie in the National League Cup, Kirkcaldy had a walkover into the quarter finals but unfortunately walkover is just what Kelso did to the Beveridge Park men when they ended up on the wrong end of a 40-5 scoreline at Poynder Park.

It was practically a done deal by half-time as Angus Roberts, Gregor Mein and Phil Hume crossed for the home side with Craig Dods slotting all three conversions to take them in 21-5 ahead at the break.

Josh Laird grabbed a try for Kirkcaldy early in the second half but that was it for the visitors. Mein scooted in for his second, Dods converted it then added try number five himself before Charlie Marshall finished the job for Murray Hastie’s conversion to bring up a substantial 35-point margin.

It doesn’t get any easier for an injury-stricken Kirkcaldy who are on the road again next Saturday to take on Marr at Troon in their rescheduled Tennent’s National 1 joust, with the Fullerton Park side itching for a win to take over top spot in the league from Jed.

At North Inch, Perth, Ardrossan scored four tries, then for variety collected a fifth with the penalty version and ran out comfortable winners by 29-13 over Perthshire.

The Shire scores came from Ryan Miller and Scott Alcorn with Calum Bruce adding a conversion but the league points gap between the two sides, who are relatively close in the table, was only emphasised by Ardrossan racking up a double after winning at Memorial Field.

The only consolation for Shire was that Saturday’s losing margin was considerably less than the 45-3 mugging they got in Ayrshire.