Dunbar hosted Leith in their final match of the season at Hallhill. Both teams had still a lot to play for and a win would more than likely see the winner end in third place behind Hawick Linden and Langholm. Conditions again were ideal for a fast and open match.

Leith were looking the hungrier early doors and took the lead on 8 minutes from a penalty kick. This was soon followed by a converted try on 13 minutes as the home defence was sliced wide open. Dunbar were slowly getting into their stride and were rewarded with a try on 19 minutes by Matt Wilson. Good play from the forwards out left saw the ball moved quickly to Jamie Peters who burst through and gave the scoring pass to Wilson. Charlton converted for 7-10. Leith came back again through their much biggar pack to score on 26 minutes. With half time approaching Dunbar got right back into things with a nice opportunist try by Josh Nicol converted by Charlton to complete the first half scoring.

Dunbar came out the blocks flying and skipper Greg Patrizio bulldozed his way over to give his side the lead for the first time. The game swung back in favour of Leith on 48 minutes after a chip over the top went dramatically wrong for Dunbar leading to a try.

 

It was Patrizio again who stepped up to finish off some good forward play on 56 minutes with Charlton converting for a 26-22 lead. Leith pulled three points back from a penalty and then took the lead with a well worked try on 62 minutes. The home side responded with a penalty to make it a one point match.

Time was running out and back came Dunbar and a great break saw Peters burst the line and dummy inside which gave him the space to beat the defender. Charlton converted for a 36-30 lead.

Dunbar now had to defend like demons and that saw Leith go over under the posts but Peters prevented the try but was yellow carded which was a ridiculous decision. Dunbar bravely defended and with time running out conceded out wide leaving the conversion to win. Fortunately the kick went wide but Dunbar still had to see out the match and to their credit did so and came away with the win. Leith stay ahead of Dunbar on point difference thanks to their two bonus points.

Final score: Dunbar 36 – 35 Leith.

Photographs and Match Report – David Wilson, Chairman, Dunbar RFC

Dunbar, unbeaten at home faced the undefeated league champions Hawick Linden at Hallhill in blustery conditions. Dunbar kicked off with the wind at their back and forced a knock on allowing them to exert pressure. Dunbar moved the ball well from the scrum and John Peebles crossed in the corner with Charlton converting. The visitors looked nervous and the re start did not go ten metres. Dunbar should maybe have scored as they bombarded the visitors line. Captain Greg Patrizio was held up over the line but Dunbar could not capitalise and it was the visitor’s next to threaten but good defence from Gary Peebles allowed for the clearance down field. Dunbar had looked good in defence but a slip up allowed Linden to score under the posts which was converted and the scores were level. Dunbar were awarded a penalty on half way and Charlton with the wind at his back converted to give his team a slender lead after 15 minutes. Both teams were guilty of mistakes and it was not until the 25th minute that the visitors regained the lead from a scrum. The number eight picked and drove over the line for the score. Back came Dunbar and again a penalty from Charlton saw the home side go back in front.Dunbar had a chance to extend the lead but the ball was turned over. The Hawick Linden got their noses back in front on 35 minutes with a penalty which was the last score of the half. Dunbar lost Jamie Peters to a shoulder injury and was replaced by Josh Nicol.

Dunbar started the second half with a bang and it was the substitute Josh Nicol who crossed for the try in the corner and Charlton again converted. Dunbar looked as if they could take the match as they dominated the scrums and the loose. The visitors were not top of the table for no reason and started to exert pressure which resulted in a score on 47 minutes to level at 20 points each. The visitors looked to take the lead but a cracking tackle near the Dunbar line forced a knock on and Dunbar cleared. Dunbar then brought on youngster Struan Lugton along with Jack Martin playing his first senior match.  

 

Dunbar then lost influential front row forward Brandon Pollock and the scrum seemed to go to pieces. Linden then had a push over try for a 25-20 lead on 60 minutes but Dunbar hit back straight away with Gary Peebles scoring a great try. Matt Wilson gathered the ball from the restart and the forwards drove up field before an injection of pace saw the centre score.

Hawick regained the lead from a penalty on 66 minutes. Dunbar were trying everything and Antoin Penrose was at the fore but was forced to retire due to a head injury. The visitors finished the match as a contest with a minute remaining as their influential number eight drove over the line.

This match could have went either way but the champions showed exactly why they were unbeaten but Dunbar came them several frights on the way.

Match Report and Photos – David Wilson, Chairman Dunbar RFC

Tartan Touch rugby coming to Dunbar. More details to follow once arrangements have been confirmed.

Dunbar welcomed Edinburgh University Medics to Hallhill for this East 2 League match. The visitors kicked off in perfect conditions and immediately won a penalty after Dunbar went offside. They elected to kick to the corner and won good line out ball but Dunbar held them up and cleared up field. The Medics looked clean to run the ball at every opportunity and forced the home side back. Dunbar defended well initially but were split wide open after 7 minutes. Dunbar were slow to get in their stride and spurned several opportunities. Dunbar continued to press and it looked like a score was on the cards but Jamie Peters could not quite control the ball. The pressure continued and Calum Champion soon levelled things before Charlton converted for a 7-5 lead.

 

Dunbar came straight back up field and were awarded a penalty but the ball came off the upright before being gathered by a Dunbar player. The ball was moved quickly and John Peebles crashed over to score. Charlton converted from the touchline for a 14-5 lead after 29 minutes. Dunbar scorned another chance on 33 minutes as the ball rolled forward from Peters as he tried to offload. Dunbar continued to press but could not add to their tally.

Dunbar started the second half strongly through the forwards and a massive miss-pass from Charlton to Wilson saw the latter send Penrose away. The full back still had work to do but forced his way through for the score on 45 minutes. Dunbar started to unload the bench and the impact was immediate. Dunbar set up good phases of play before unleashing Penrose for his second try of the match. Charlton converted from the touchline to give his side a 28-5 lead and secure a try bonus point. The next quarter was mostly all Dunbar but the ball coming back was too slow, allowing the Medics to defend their line better.

It took Dunbar until the 68^th minute to score their next try through Jamie Peters. The forwards made great ground out wide before quick ball to John Peebles saw the winger break through to within 10 metres of the line where he offloaded to Peters to score. Charlton kicked the extra points for a 35-5 lead. The home side continued to dominate proceedings and it was appropriate that it was Antoin Penrose who scored a solo try from half way.

The Medics scored the first try and they would complete the scoring with a consolation try in the final minute.

Dunbar will need to play much better when they welcome league leaders Hawick Linden in a fortnight. Play was too slow at times and too many chances were squandered. Final Score – Dunbar  42 – 10 Edinburgh University Medics.

Photographs & Match report by David Wilson – Chairman Dunbar RFC

Dunbar RFC hosted their great friends from Skerries on Friday afternoon. This was the 34^th fixture played in Dunbar and 67^th going back to 1952. The weather held off but there was a blustery wind which Skerries would use to their advantage in the first half. Skerries came with over 50 members but lacked numbers so were helped out by Dunbar. 

Dunbar kicked off against the wind and found themselves 7-0 down after barely 30 seconds. The ball held in the wind and it was the Skerries number 8 Ben Jenkinson who gathered and beat the Dunbar defence to score under the posts. Dunbar were struggling to keep Skerries at bay and found themselves further behind after just 10 minutes when Skerries touched down in the corner. Dunbar tried desperately to get back in the game but mistakes cost them dearly. Wrong decision making did not help and Skerries defended well.

The visitor’s were playing really good rugby and came away with yet another score on 30 minutes which was to be the final score of the half.

Dunbar now had the advantage of the wind but failed to utilise that and were pegged back into their own twenty two. A break away gave Dunbar their first real chance on 45 minutes when youngster Struan Lugton made good ground before being stopped. Dunbar kept up the pressure and Jordan Lister broke clear to score under the posts for Dunbar. Charlton added the extra points. This should have been the start of the Dunbar comeback but the home side were pushed back. Continuous pressure from the visitor’s was rewarded after 50 minutes with a simple try which was converted by Blair Mills the former Dunbar man now playing in Ireland.

 

Back came Dunbar and it was the teenager, Struan Lugton playing in his first senior match who crashed over to score. Charlton again converted to bring the score to 26-14 to the Skerries. Dunbar should have scored when Gary Peebles broke away but the ball went loose and Skerries broke up field to score through Marco Bagatella against his own club mates. Mills again converted and Skerries looked to have retained the shield.

Dunbar then had their best spell of the match and were rewarded when Gary Peebles finished off a nice move to score with Charlton converting. Dunbar came right back up field again and this time Antoin Penrose showed explosive pace to beat the defence to score. Charlton missed the conversion. Dunbar had chances in the final three minutes but time ran out and Skerries were victorious 33-26.

Over 120 people sat down to dinner where ex Scotland player Peter Brown toasted Skerries.

Match Report – David Wilson – Chairman Dunbar RFC

Photos – Glenn Young – Secretary Dunbar RFC, David Wilson – Chairman Dunbar RFC

 

The previous match between the two clubs was a tight affair with Dunbar having to defend resolutely to keep Penicuik from winning the match. The match today would be an extremely tight match as the weather was horrendous and the ground almost like a bog in places.
Penicuik kicked off but the ball failed to go ten so Dunbar had a scrum on half way. Running Rugby would be far from the minds of the players but both teams tried to open up as much as possible but defences held on both sides. The visitors should have scored after 10 minutes when a neat grubber saw the ball fail to bounce up to Gary Peebles at the line. The referee awarded a twenty two but it was clear the Penicuik player touched the ball before it crossed the line. Dunbar were trying to hit up through Peters and Peebles but the home defence stood firm. There was a lot of turn over balls when on the ground by both teams. There were a lot of loose throws in the line out but Dunbar were winning their fair share.

Dunbar took the lead on 24 minutes when a nice chip over the top was gathered by Antoin Penrose and he quickly passed to the onrushing Gary Peebles to get the touch down. Charlton converted for a 7-0 lead. Dunbar should have went further ahead when Josh Nicol came up short but Charlton knocked on. Jamie Peters went on a crash ball and looked to have been tripped but play went on but the home side cleared. The referee then blew for half time with both teams barely recognisable in the mud.

Dunbar were immediately on the back foot and on 45 minutes Penicuik crossed the whitewash only to be well held up. The home side kept up the attack and only dogged determination kept them out. Penicuik crossed the line again on 52 minutes and yet again were held up. Dunbar then had scrum half Jack Walters yellow carded for kicking the ball at the back of the scrum. Dunbar were under the cosh but defended incredibly well but were forced to concede on 59 minutes. The Dunbar players were adamant they had held the player up but the referee did not agree.

Dunbar, from the restart got some decent possession for a while but it was not long before they were pegged back to their own line. The defence was yet again magnificent as they soaked up the pressure and then broke out after turning over the ball. Dunbar had a penalty advantage and Charlton chipped over the defence. The Penicuik winger knocked the ball towards his own twenty two under pressure from Penrose and it was the Dunbar full back who retrieved the ball and should have passed to Peebles but went to the ground. The Dunbar forwards now attacked the home line on several occasions before Captain Greg Patrizio smashed over from close range to give his side the lead. Charlton saw his kick from the touchline pull up short. Dunbar now had 10 minutes to hold out for the win. Penicuik tried their best but the Dunbar team were not for giving it away this time. The forwards turned over the ball and kept the ball tight for the last four minutes to see them win an extremely tight match.
Penicuik will be hugely disappointed as they had the majority of possession in the second half but could not make it count. Hat’s off to the Dunbar defence who were magnificent to a man. Dunbar’s last three league matches are all at home and the win today sees them move into second place ahead of Langholm who have a couple of matches in hand.

Match report and Photos – David Wilson – Chairman Dunbar RFC