Kirkcaldy vs Dunfermline

Dunfermline arrived at Beveridge Park with high hopes of repeating their earlier win in the league. This was an evenly balanced game with the bulk of the play taking place in the middle third of the pitch and neither team, in the early stages, looking like they would make the breakthrough. In the set piece, the bigger Kirkcaldy pack had the better of the scrums, but Dunfermline more than held their own in the line outs and the loose. The breakthrough came for Kirkcaldy in the 18th minute with a converted try. This came from a period of Kirkcaldy pressure in the Dunfermline 5 metre area, when the ball was finally touched down next to the posts from the loose by one of the Kirkcaldy second row forwards. 7-0 Kirkcaldy. Kirkcaldy’s lead lasted for 10 minutes when Alex Foster went over to equalise. Foster’s try came from some good driving play from Dunfermline started by Lliam Quarm to take the ball into the Kirkcaldy half, passed the ball to Darroch McKeague who almost made it to the line before popping the ball to Foster. Connor Simpkins converted. The status quo held for 5 minutes before Kirkcaldy scored again. This time their try was down to luck more than skill. A successful Dunfermline scrum on their own 5 metre saw the ball come back to Andy Pollock, but unfortunately Pollock’s clearance was charged down by the Kirkcaldy Stand Off who then dropped on the ball for an easily converted try to give Kirkcaldy a 7 point lead once again. This was one of these things that happen in rugby and a fraction of a second either way would have seen a successful clearance by Andy Pollock.
Dunfermline started the second half well when, in the 38th minute, Connor Simpkins released Angus Thomson who almost made it to the Kirkcaldy line but was stopped by a high tackle from Kirkcaldy. Unfortunately, Dunfermline were unable to capitalise on the ensuing scrum. Three minutes later, Dunfermline were not to be denied when Thomson went over in the corner for Dunfermline’s second. From a Dunfermline scrum in their own half, the Simpkins half back combination ( Macaulay at Scrum half, Connor at Stand Off) quickly shipped the ball out to Neil Davidson who in turn moved the ball out to Thomson. Thomson ran half the length of the pitch, and some poor Kirkcaldy tackling allowed him to score in the corner. Connor Simpkins was unable to make the conversion due to the tight angle and the score remained at
14-12 to the home side. Back came Kirkcaldy, and in the 47th minute they scored their final converted try to take a 21-12 lead. 4 minutes later in the 51st minute Dunfermline scored their final try. After a good Dunfermline scrum and ruck on the Kirkcaldy 22, Lliam Quarm broke from the base of the ruck to run through the Kirkcaldy cover to score. Again this was in the corner which left too tight an angle for Connor Simpkins to convert. 21-17 to the home side. The final stages of the game were played at a frenetic pace and deep in Kirkcaldy territory when the game ended with Kirkcaldy holding out from some intense Dunfermline pressure to win the match by 4 points.
Like the Perthshire game, this was one that Dunfermline could and should have won. They moved the ball well at times and previous tendencies from some players to hold on to the ball was absent. Macaulay Simpkins had a good game at scrum half in an unfamiliar position and linked well with his brother at Stand Off. The back row were back to their usual best with some crunching tackles, good work in the loose, excellent support play, and their hard work was rewarded with a try each. So, Dunfermline lost by two conversions, but this was unfortunate and not down to any one player. Perthshire at home on the 24th, and Dunfermline can take a leaf out of Kirkcaldy’s book by gaining revenge for an earlier defeat.

Footnote – JD continues in his multi disciplinary role by performing as waterboy and tee carrier. He obviously put in a hard shift evidenced by the speed that the pie and Beans disappeared after the match.