Dunbar welcomed East Region Division 2 Forresters to Hallhill for a pre-season friendly. A solid pitch and sultry conditions greeted the two teams as the new season got underway.

Dunbar kicked off the first of three twenty minute sessions playing away from the clubhouse and were quickly into their stride pressuring the visitors defence with some excellent combination play between backs and forwards which resulted in an opportunity being created for Sandy Graham to drive towards the tryline only to be held up by some determined latch ditch defence.

The home side continued their onslaught, and they were rewarded when Ewan Miller secured possession, handed off a would-be tackler and strolled over for the game’s opening try. The conversion attempt drifted wide.

The visitors were wilting in the ferocious heat and the intensity of the home team’s combination play and once again Ewan Miller again burst through the front-line defence with yet another strong hand off to score his second try by the posts. Robbie Cockburn sent the conversion between the posts, and the score was now 12 – 0.

Dunbar’s dominance in open play saw excellent hands affording Kyle Gallacher the space to break clear but he showed good awareness to pass inside to the supporting Dan Martin who touched down by the posts. A successful conversion followed.

The visitors were clearly reeling at the onslaught of sustained pressure and this time it was Ewan Patrizio who went on one of his trademark rampaging runs only to be denied by the number of tacklers Forresters had committed. A penalty ensued and was quickly taken, and good hands saw Ewan Miller given the space to sprint clear for his hat trick try. Another successful conversion followed, and Dunbar led 26 – 0.

As the first session drew to a close the visitors enjoyed the first spell of sustained pressure utilising their older and bulkier forwards to put Dunbar under the cosh at the scrum, a series of penalties followed but the doughty home defence kept their line intact with excellent defence.

The second session began in the same way as the first as poor kicking from the visitors afforded the home side the opportunity to drive into the twenty-two only for over-elaboration in the execution of passing resulting in a knock on. From the resultant scrum the visitor’s forwards and backs combined well driving into Dunbar’s twenty-two and desperate defence saw a penalty awarded. The visitors were unable to gain a five-metre lineout as the kick went the wrong side of the corner flag allowing Dunbar to clear their line with the subsequent dropout.

From the resultant lineout excellent defence saw the ball turned over and quick hands saw the ever-alert Blair Mills sprint clear of the covering defence to score by the posts. A successful conversion took the score to 33 – 0.

The final twenty minute session saw the visitors struggle to contain Dunbar’s excellent interplay and a little niggle appeared in the game but undeterred the home side concentrated on their fast tempo brand of rugby and a sustained series of drives in the visitor’s twenty two it was Dan Martin who showed good strength and pace to stroll over by the posts for his second try. The conversion took the score to 40 – 0.

With the visitors visibly wilting in the heat and constant pressure it was Rory Dowding who took advantage using both his strength and nifty footwork to sidestep his way clear and score under the posts. The conversion was good.

Dunbar completed their scoring when an excellent break by Robbie Cockburn from a lineout saw him sprint clear and score out wide but he was unable to convert his own try.

The game petered out and after tempers were frayed at a ruck the referee blew for full time giving all the opportunity to cool down with a well-deserved shower.

A useful exercise for the home side with some excellent attacking and defensive play on show. The scrum struggled a little at times, but they stuck to their task well being rewarded by shutting out their opponents in a comfortable win. Plaudits are also due to Dara McHugh the referee who is just about to turn eighteen and is therefore one of Scotland’s youngest referees who impressed the watching spectators with his overall control of the game.

Attention now turns to a visit to Melrose next Saturday where they will play a forty-minute game against the Storm as well as a forty-minute game against Heriot’s 2nd XV, these games are a pre-curser to the Melrose v Heriots Premiership game at the Greenyards.