In a hard-fought final home match of 2013 on Saturday, McNeish kicked six penalties to preserve the McKane men’s 100 per cent home record as they moved clear of Perthshire at the summit after the league’s other fixtures were called off.
Derek O’Riordan’s team began strongly and an early Giles Boland break set up a good attacking position but the last pass failed to go to hand to allow the Angus visitors to clear their lines.
Their relief however was short-lived as McNeish put the afternoon’s opening points on the scoreboard with a penalty from 22 metres following good lead up work. The visitors though responded well and took the lead with what was to be the game’s only try from Fraser Cameron, who followed up a chip ahead to touch down near the posts before Stewart Ross added the conversion.
Dunfermline at this stage in proceedings were struggling to gain an upper hand in the scrums but Strathmore’s indiscipline saw them concede another penalty which added another three points thanks to McNeish. The home side pressed hard and retained possession well but saw Ryan Benson held short before they were awarded a third penalty before half time.
Second row Liam Quarm drove through the line out and play was swiftly switched as Strathmore conceded, with McNeish once more coverting to give Dunfermline the lead. The hosts continued to dominate but good runs from Scott Gracie and Benson went unrewarded as they led 9-7 at the break.
Dunfermline began the second half with confidence and winger Graeme Hall was unfortunate to be denied a score after following up a kick through before the hosts did add to their lead.
With the pack beginning to gain the advantage in the scrum, they pushed Strathmore out of their own put in winning a penalty in front of the posts that McNeish once more had no trouble in converting.
The home side moved the ball smoothly with both the forwards and the backs displaying authority while in possession but Strathmore’s defence held firm as Dunfermline found it difficult to make a decisive breakthrough.
But as had been the case throughout the afternoon, the visitors’ indiscipline cost them as they struggled to deal with the mounting pressure and McNeish added another two penalties to bring his points total for the season to 163 as they moved four points clear of second placed Perthshire.
Dunfermline play their final match of 2013 by making the long trip to Kirkwall to play Orkney on Saturday before the league resumes on 11th January with a McKane Park clash with their closest challengers Perthshire.