Early penalty to the visitors on Dunfermline’s 10 metre line converted by Liam Brims. This was shortly followed by a further penalty from a similar position also converted by Brims. Caithness controlled the game by denying Dunfermline possession and employed a kicking game to try and force defensive errors from the home side. Their efforts were rewarded from a ruck in midfield they worked the ball wide on the left to No 8 Evan Sutherland to touch down. Brims added the conversion. The visitors looked as if they were going to dominate proceedings at this point. Dunfermline worked hard to get themselves into the game and after a period of scrappy play the ball broke to Giles Boland who set of on a mazy run from the Dunfermline 10 metre line escaping 4 tackles before crossing to touch down under the posts. Gregor McNeish converted to add the two points. This seemed to lift the Dunfermline spirits and they launched a series of attacks. Dunfermline won a scrum 5 metres out and from the ruck the ball found its way to Maurice Pinkerton courtesy of a slick reverse pass from McNeish, to score under the posts. McNeish converted to give Dunfermline the lead. Dunfermline continued to raise their game as the first half drew to a close with a surging run by Craig McKenzie the highlight.
Dunfermline maintained the pressure as the second half opened. They were rewarded with a piercing run by Boland and good interpassing between forwards and backs to allow Graeme Low to cross. The conversion went narrowly wide. The home side were by now dominating exchanges and only a combination of desperate defence by the visitors and last pass inaccuracies denied Dunfermline any reward, although two McNeish penalty attempts failed to bisect the uprights. A poor clearance from the second penalty was fielded by Boland who instigated a good handling move for Neil Donald to sprint over on the left for a bonus point try. McNeish converted. Caithness were determined to fight back to narrow the points difference and were rewarded at the last gasp with a try by Liam Stewart wide on the right as he dived under the defending tacklers.
This Saturday’s fixture Dunfermline V Gordonians at McKane Park KO 3.00pm