Dunfermline vs Falkirk

Dunfermline’s third league match saw them face Falkirk at McKane Park, which was a much anticipated game given the scores between the teams in four meetings last season. Unfortunately, Falkirk arrived with only 14 players, and as Dunfermline offered them players to make up the deficit, Falkirk opted to play the game as a contest rather than awarding Dunfermline the 4 points. The game got off to a brisk start and after some early pressure, Andy Pollock went over in the 5th minute for a great individual try, running from deep to get points on the board for Dunfermline. His try was converted by Connor Simpkins to give Dunfermline an early 7-0 lead. Dunfermline continued to attack, and Neil Davidson was unlucky not to score, prevented by some good defending by Falkirk. Dunfermline increased their lead in the 11th minute when Angus Thomson picked up the ball as it squirted out of the side of Falkirk scrum and ran through the Falkirk defence to plant the ball between the posts giving Connor Simpkins another easy conversion to take Dunfermline’s lead to 14 points with none in reply. Falkirk re-started the game by kicking deep into Dunfermline territory where it was collected by Lliam Quarm. Quarm ran through two Falkirk players, off loaded the ball to Andy Pollock who went scorching down the wing to score his second and Dunfermline’s 3rd try. Again this was easily converted by Connor Simpkins to take Dunfermline into a 21-0 lead. Falkirk continued to take the game to Dunfermline, and as was the case in their last home win against Kirkcaldy, the defence held firm with some excellent tackling. In the 20th minute, Falkirk took one of their 15 penalties in the game, but the kick didn’t find touch. The ball was run up the line by Darroch McKeague supported by Angus Thomson. McKeague offloaded to Thomson who touched down for a try, converted by the reliable Simpkins to give Dunfermline a 28-0 lead. The game continued to be played in the Falkirk half, and it was Dunfermline who scored again in the 30th minute with a try from Connor Simpkins. Simpkins collected the ball from Ross Clark, ran across the pitch without passing and scored in the corner to give himself a difficult angle from which to make the conversion which he missed for the first time today. 33-0 Dunfermline. Dunfermline had one last chance to score in the first half when Lliam Quarm ran a Falkirk penalty back at them, but he failed to spot the three man overlap that may have given another score had the pass been made.
Falkirk kicked off the second half with a lengthy kick which was caught and ran back at them by Thomson who gave Falkirk the line out by passing into touch. The Falkirk line outs and set pieces didn’t pose too many problems to a Dunfermline pack that coped easily with these. Any thoughts of a Falkirk revival were put to bed in the 46th minute when Lliam Quarm finally got his try. Again this was converted by Simpkins to take Dunfermline into a 40-0 lead. Simpkins further boosted his tally for the day one minute later when Falkirk gave Dunfermline their only penalty of the day in front of their posts for an easy 3 points, and a 43-0 lead. Dunfermline could have increased their score from a storming run by Quarm, supported by Thomson who fumbled the resulting pass a he went over the Falkirk line. Dunfermline were not to be outdone however when, in the 56th minute, Neil Davidson scored a fine try between the posts after a pass from Connor Simpkins who converted to give Dunfermline a 50 point lead. To rotate the Dunfermline players turning out for Falkirk, Andy Pollock changed strips and repaid Dunfermline by having a hand in Falkirk’s two late converted tries in the 62 and 69th minutes to give a final score of 50-14 to Dunfermline.
This was a good performance from a Dunfermline side that looked slick when they moved the ball at pace out to the wings. Unfortunately there are still some players who appear to be reluctant to pass the ball, and seem to be more intent on running up a personal score rather than a team score. There is no I in team boys! On the plus side, there were fewer spectators on the pitch this week and the ball carriers always had options to pass. Next Sunday Dunfermline face Stirling County at Bridgehaugh which is a different proposition altogether. ‘Nuff said!

Footnote – JD cut a fine figure running the line