The Dunfermline team were missing a few of their regular starting 13 today which gave some more of the development kids a chance to show what they can do from the start. In what were very blustery conditions the match started with neither team taking control but it was the Dunfermline lads that managed to put together the first bit of good play with a sustained period of pressure which included some good passing and support play that ended with Sean Clark scoring the first try, Ben Dollery adding the conversion. Straight from the re-start some good strong tackling by Dunfermline enabled Cammy Symes to steal the ball and run in a try under the posts that Ben converted. Neither team could take control of the game after that and some very poor tackling by the Dunfermline defence lead to a Mackie try and conversion. Dunfermline responded well with another period of pressure that Mackie defended well, unfortunately Dunfermline were let down by some poor support play and rucking that allowed Mackie to win the ball in their own 22 and run a try in under the post that was converted to bring the scores level at the end of the first 20 min period.
Just after the second period got under way one of the Mackie players, Ross, took a heavy knock to his head and neck while making a tackle. The game was halted for an extended period while he was treated and once he had been taken off to hospital the game was restarted.
The final period started well for Dunfermline with Jay Hogg scoring a quick try following some good support play, Ben missed the conversion. Dunfermline were then guilty of some terrible tackling that allowed the big Mackie number 4 to run through for a Mackie score that they failed to convert. Dunfermline then picked their game up a bit and scored two unanswered tries one coming after three or four good phases of play and the second following a quick penalty. Both tries were scored by Cammy with Ben adding the conversions. Mackie then had a period of pressure that lead to a well deserved try but they failed with the conversion. Dunfermline then took control of the game for the final few minutes and added two more tries one of which came from some better rucking that enabled the backs to get quick ball for the first time in the game. The final two tries were scored by Cammy with Ben adding the conversions. . Final score Macke 14, Dunfermline 27.
Thank you to everyone who made the trip up to Mackie today and thanks also to Mackie for hosting what was a good competitive game. Hopefully Ross will be up and about soon.