Dundee High enjoy hard-fought but deserved victory over Kelso

The Borders have never been a happy hunting gound for Dundee High Rugby but on Saturday they came back from Poynder Park with a hard-fought 17-3 win over Kelso.

It was never going to be a high scoring match but , taking a 12-0 advantage into the second half, Dundee never looked like losing that lead despite some feisty defence by the home side whose attack never quite matched the way they defended their line.

Alan Brown, Ian Arnott and sub Jack Paladini had the tries, Andy Hamilton slotted one conversion and that was enough – but the test will come for Dundee when joint BT National 1 leaders Edinburgh Accies pitch up at Mayfield next Saturday.

Something had to give at Park Farm when Kirkcaldy travelled to face Dumfries, the Beveridge park men leading the BT National 2 table from their hosts only on points differential.

Home advantage told in the end as Dumfries took over top spot with a 31-24 win thanks to a hat-trick from Kenny Henderson and tries by Kaegan Jones and Gavin Wilson.

Kirkcaldy hung in and came close to grabbing two points with tries from Scott Anderson (2) and Owen Bonner and three conversions and a penalty from Gavin Mckenzie.

However, the bonus point try eluded them and they were left with only a losing bonus consolation.

Dumfries now top the table with 19 points with Kirkcaldy second on 16, one ahead of Hamilton and with fifth-placed GHK at Beveridge Park on Saturday, it will be a test of Kirkcaldy’s mettle to stay in second slot.

With two wins from three starts, West travelled to Duffus Park to face a winless Howe of Fife and they never saw this one coming.

Howe clicked for the first time this season with a vengence and doled out a 64-7 thumping of the Burnbrae outfit.

The points came from tries by Cammy Gray (2), Ryan Milne, Chris Mann, Will Wardlow, Connor Crawford, Duncan McIntyre, Chris Hoborn and a penalty try. Gray converted six, Cammy Ellison two and a penalty.

That win takes them clear of Peebles, and now Howe will await the arrival of the men from the Gytes on Saturday with relish.

Perthshire’s miserable season in BT National 3 continued with a 43-11 defeat at St Boswells and now only Orkney are below them in the table on differential.