Dunfermline kicked off on a heavy pitch in this rescheduled RBS Caledonia Regional Shield semi-final tie. The home side began the game with purpose and a show of good hands gave winger Graeme Lowe the opportunity to test Hillfoots defence. Dunfermline won a penalty from the resultant play which Gregor McNeish pushed just wide from 35 metres. Dunfermline pressure from a scrum forced the visitors to concede a 5 metre scrum which was followed by a series of rucks close to Hillfoots’ goal line but they relieved the pressure after Dunfermline were penalised. The home supporters were further encouraged by a good run from Martin Scade who made good progress before being bundled out at the visitors’ 22 metre line. A loose clearance by Hillfoots again fielded by Scade set Scott Swankie free to feed Lowe who ran in under the posts. McNeish converted. Hillfoots immediately responded as the home side failed to deal with the restart adequately and Dunfermline scrambled the ball clear. Conceding a penalty from the line out Dunfermline were on the back foot as Hillfoots opted for a scrum. Impatience by the visitors in setting the scrum gave Dunfermline a free kick to relieve the pressure. The remainder of the half was spent in a game of aerial ping pong as neither side attempted to impose any pattern and structure to their play.

An early long range penalty gave Hillfoots the chance of the first points in the second half but the kick went wide. Again both sides were guilty of aimless kicking more in the hope that the receivers would make a mistake than the ball carriers would create openings. A Swankie break from half way following a loose kick released Lowe who crossed in the left corner for his second try. The difficult conversion was missed. Hillfoots were stung into responding with the forwards making good progress. Dunfermline defended well against the incisions but conceded a series of penalties. Hillfoots looking to score a try opted again for a scrum and were successful with a push over try credited to Gavin Spowage. Gregor Manson converted. After a further period of poor kicking Dunfermline won quick scrum ball wide on the left, Swankie broke through from deep, linked with Colin Eadie who fed Rhys Davies who dived over for an unconverted try. With a ten point margin things looked a bit more comfortable for the home side but Hillfoots were not finished. They worked their way close to the Dunfermline right corner and with a series of driving rucks eventually Sandy Penman forced his way over. The conversion from out wide was kicked by Manson to complete the scoring.

Saturday Dunfermline play Langholm in RBS National League 1 KO 2.00pm