Match Report Dunfermline 'B' Team

Dunfermline B won the Kinross tournament 5-2 in the final after a confident team performance against Dunfermline A. Their tackling was determined and committed, and though there is room for improvement in tackling low, all the players are showing great team spirit.

The B team dominated possession for much of the match forcing errors and turnovers by pressing hard. Ewan saved one certain try by a touchline tackle two yards out, whilst Cameron, Roddie, and Joe all made good tackles at other times. Good passing was the key to the scores, with a pattern of continuity which had been established in the earlier rounds flourishing.

The try of the day came when, after Ewan, Ollie and Lewis had scored to establish a lead, the A team were pressing. A tackle by Connor, assisted by AN Other freed the ball up on the line. Connor cleared the ball off the ground to John, who crossed the gain line and made up field before releasing Joe who headed left and passed to Callum just over half way. Callum was just being caught by the last defender when he saw Lewis on his left shoulder and set him off to score his second of the game. The ball had passed through six sets of hands before the score!

Connor added the fifth. Angus scored both of the A team tries.

Earlier against Hillfoots, Dunfermline let a 3 -0 lead slip but came away 4-3 winners in a game which featured some generous refereeing. Cameron and Jamie tackled well in that match. The ‘B’s also beat a Kirkcaldy team, who had had a hard game against Hillfoots and had lost some players, by a convincing 7-0 cutting gaps through their defence. It may not be so simple next time. Ethan, Joe, Roddie, Connor Owen(2) and Ewan scored in that match, but the biggest feature had to be the passing from the tackle after the gain line was breached.

In their third pool game ‘B’ team eased past Kinross despite a couple of scares, Ewan again contributing a try saving tackle, and Lewis also tackling with confidence, though all the team did well in clearing the ball away from contact. Joe, Cameron, Lewis, Ewan and Owen scored in that game, but there was also good link from John, Jamie, and Cameron.

The mauling style of the Maclaren team, using a style different from that coached at Dunfermline, gave the ‘B’s their biggest challenge. They struggled (as the ‘A’s had earlier) to clear the ball away from the tackle area. However the ‘B’s tackling commitment continued despite frustrating turnovers. They eventually ran out winners, Lewis, Ewan, Joe and Cameron getting on the end good breakout work by Roddie, John, Owen and the whole team.

Undefeated, and with a clean sweep of the pool games the team’s more solid defensive performance and passing deserved to earn the win on a day when all 22 players and their parents gave a superb showing. There is room to build on the good things – but all great progress from Murrayfield.

Stewart