Strathie’s win dents Howe promotion bid

The weekend weather lived up to its ominous promise and saw Kirkcaldy’s game at Beveridge Park against GHK – a National 2 clash which could have had an impact on the top of the table – postponed again.

That left Strathmore facing Howe of Fife, not at Inchmacoble but on the 4G pitch at the Dundee Performance Centre.

All credit to the clubs for their initiative and to Strathie for sacrificing home advantage but Howe might rue the switch and the game going ahead as the 32-20 win for Strathmore is certainly a dunt to Howe’s promotion prospects.

Strathmore had 13 unanswered points on the board before Howe scored.

Lee Alexander opened the scoring with a penalty followed by tries from Blair Butchart and Fergus Mitchell before Howe finally put some points on the board,

Stewart Dawson crossed for the try but Alexander’s second penalty took Strathmore in 18-5 ahead at the break.

Rory Johnstone pulled another try back for Howe but two tries in succession from Ruaridh Beaton and Duncan Shaw sewed it up.

Although Cammy Walker and Graham Thomson ran in tries for Howe, James Kiley’s strike made the margin too wide.

The 32-20 final scoreline was exactly what Strathmore needed ahead of the return league fixture against Howe at Duffus Park in a few weeks.

Howe president Chris Reekie had no complaints, saying: “They played the conditions better and when they got their noses in front we just couldn’t catch up.

“They controlled the ball better throughout the game and deserved the result.”

The win consolidates Strathmore’s comfortable league position while the defeat has cost Howe momentum in their challenge for a top-two spot Tennent’s National 3.

Even winning their game in hand over fourthplaced Ardrossan would still fall short of moving them above the Ayrshire men in the table.