Fifers stay hot on heels of leaders after big victory

Dunfermline stay on the heels of pacesetters Orkney after a 65-13 win at home to Garioch in Tennent’s Caledonia Division 1.

Skipper Clarke Smith started the scoreboard ticking over with the first of the Fifers’ nine tries and there were doubles from Cammy Dunn and James Nicoll, while Adam Fraser landed seven conversions and two penalties for a personal haul of 20 points.

Grangemouth Stags sit third in the table after taking all five points from a 38-22 win away to Alloa. The hosts opened the scoring with a Rab Truesdale try but Stags bounced back to lead 14-8 at half-time then kicked on to secure the bonus-point win.

Glenrothes remain in the top four after a 26-10 victory over Blairgowrie at Carleton Park. Tries by Ross Anderson, Rhys Bryce and Jack Bousie plus two Kain Duguid conversions handed the hosts a 19-0 interval lead and they quelled a Blair fightback with a converted Cammy Goodall score that secured all five points.

Hillfoots should have travelled to Ellon, but the Tillicoultry men were unable to raise sufficient players and the game will now be played next month.

In Division 2, Harris FP beat Panmure at Forthill.

Joe Abbott bagged two tries for Harris and there was one apiece for James Lockhart, Malcolm Mckenzie and Angus Robertson, with Grant Paterson landing five conversions and two penalties as the visitors claimed a 41-18 win.

With the match between unbeaten Madras and Rosyth postponed, there was a shake-up in the league table.

Kirkcaldy seconds moved into top spot with a 15-6 win at home to Kinross, but they lead only on points difference over Carnoustie, who emerged as 38-27 winners over Dundee University Medics. Madras now occupy third spot, one point adrift of the leading duo, but have a game in hand.

For the second week Morgan were unable to field a team, this time for the match against Division 3 pacesetters Dunfermline seconds.

Grangemouth Stags seconds took full advantage, although they were given a tough test by Montrose and District on the way to a 29-22 win that yielded a fourth successive four-try bonus that leaves Stags five points clear at the top.

Dunfermline seconds have been joined in second spot by Bannockburn, who returned from the trip to face Waid FP with a 29-14 win to their credit.

Crieff and Strathearn were the day’s top scorers, racking up an 84-18 win against the Glenrothes Development side. There were also points aplenty in the other game, with Strathmore seconds outscoring their Perthshire counterparts 57-24.

Further evidence of the current strength of Dunfermline Rugby Club came in Division 4, where the Fifers’ third string had a 40-18 win that puts them at the summit.

Meanwhile, Stobswell tasted success for the first time this season when they saw off Aberfeldy 26-14.