Fifers get back to winning ways in thumping style

Having come under the cosh at Selkirk in their opening encounter, Kirkcaldy exacted revenge by thumping visitors from the south seven days later with a resounding 41-14 win over Kelso.

The Beveridge Park outfit were never behind and dominated most areas of the game, with the result that they collected a welcome try bonus.

Finlay Bruce grabbed a double and Conor Littlejohn, Conor Wood and Greg Wallace all picked up tries.

Finlay Smith bagged a nap hand with all five conversions and added a couple of penalties for good measure.

Overall, this was just the sort of performance Kirkcaldy needed, with the prospect of travelling north to face Aberdeen Grammar next week.

What looked to become an embarrassing runaway win for the home side when Whitecraigs went in at the break 33-12 up became an absorbing tussle as Howe of Fife battled back to within a score in a hugely entertaining game, which ended 52-46 to the home side.

Both teams had lost their opening National 2 matches last week.

And though Howe have now lost two on the bounce, they will take great heart from the way they fought back to nick two points and come close to getting the full bag.

Graham Murchie was top man for ’Craigs with a hat-trick, Aaron Graham, Callum Innes, Brandon Wamberg, Liam Barbour and Edmund Abekhe all added one apiece and Steven Gillies slotted six conversions.

Howe hit back with a brace of tries from Robert Cabemaiwasa and David Hodge, with one each for Gregor Smith, Shaun Murray, Jack Douglas and Chris Mann.

However, with Dylan Suttie converting one and Murray drop kicking the final two tries from eight, they left too many points on the park.

Perthshire opened their National 3 account with a heavy defeat at Ardrossan last week.

However, they got on the board with 34-19 win over Orkney at North Inch.

They led 22-5 at the break and although Orkney hit back with a couple of tries in the second half, Perthshire ran in two of their own to keep the margin well into the comfort zone.

Ryan Miller, Jonny Armitt, Scott Alcorn, Dan Bowater and Peter Cowan ensured the try bonus with five tries and Adam Dearden’s three conversions and a penalty gave them a win.

This could well be a confidence booster for their trip to Edinburgh to face Murrayfield Wanderers next week.