Portobello RFC v Dunbar RFC
Saturday 11th October 2025
Match Report and Photos by Alex Coull
Portobello RFC 26 – 49 Dunbar RFC
Dunbar made the short trip to Cavalry Park Edinburgh to play Portobello in the latest league match of the season. The weather was very pleasant for October and both players and spectators were looking forward to a competitive game on the firm pitch.
The visitors started brightly, and their backs moved the ball quickly through the hands affording winger Rory Dowding to break clear only to be denied by a last-ditch cover tackle. The supporting forwards kept up the pressure, and the ball was transferred to Callum Harding to drive over from close range for a try after only a minute’s play. Gregor Ronan converted with an excellent kick.
Buoyed by this early success Dunbar’s forwards and backs kept up the pressure with a series of drives testing the home defence who were deemed offside, and Gregor Ronan dispatched the kick between the posts.
Next to threaten were the Dunbar backs who despite their kick ahead going out on the full were encouraged with strong scrummaging allied to aggressive defence saw another penalty awarded for not releasing. Another successful kick took Dunbar thirteen points clear.
The fired-up home side were next to threaten when an excellent back’s move saw them break through and good support play saw them cross by the posts for their first try. A successful conversion followed, and the score was now 7 – 13.
This reversal clearly stung the visitors and with back row prominent tested the home defence with a series of drives, but the home tackling proved effective, and they were rewarded when Dunbar conceded a penalty.
With the home side growing in confidence, it was their centre who broke clear and following on from excellent support play they were rewarded when a forward crashed over from close range. The conversion took Portobello into a one-point lead.
The visitors now knew they were in a competitive game, and they upped the pressure again with a series of forward drives and after a blindside break Callum Harding timed his pass beautifully giving Rory Dowding the room to outpace the cover and power his way over for an excellent try. Dunbar now led 18 – 14.
With the visitors having regained the lead they continued to dominate possession and yet another drive and break by Dan Martin ably supported by his fellow forwards and a well-timed inside pass from Dylan Sammels saw Ben Miller given the opportunity to romp home for another try. The conversion followed taking the score to 14 – 25.
The home team showed great resolve to steady their scrum and their centre showed good strength to burst through the visitor’s defence creating an overlap for their winger to score out wide.
Clearly stung by the loss of this score they took advantage of a penalty award by quickly moving the ball wide and after Robbie Cockburn was held up just short the ball was recycled quickly allowing Struan Lugton to power his way over for the try bonus point. A neat conversion kick from Gregor Ronan saw Dunbar reach half time leading 32 – 19.
The home side now had the advantage of what little wind there was as well as the sun on their backs, but it was Dunbar who created the first try scoring opportunity, but they were denied a score as the last pass was deemed forward. Dunbar then had a ten-minute spell of indiscipline and loss of lineout possession through overthrows, and this gave the home side the confidence to test the defence which saw Lochie Milne prominent with his text book tackling continually frustrating and halting their attacks. The steadfast defence saw pressure put on the home backs handling and after a loose pass was secured Dunbar stretched the home defence with long passes creating the space for Sandy Graham to stroll over out wide for yet another try.
Dunbar now sensed that their opponents were tiring after their efforts in frontline tackling and the visitors showed god patience in their attacking play saw Lochie Milne set up Mike Wimbledon-Hall to sidestep and sprint clear to score an excellent try. Another missed conversion followed but the score was now 19 – 42.
Dunbar continued to keep the home side under pressure with the forwards committing the fringe defence and after, yet another slick passing move it was Robbie Cockburn who was bundled into touch deep in the home twenty-two.
Undeterred it was Gregor Ronan who turned defence into attack with a kick ahead which was returned with interest by the home side and after a knock on Portobello were awarded a penalty which their alert scrum half took quickly catching the visiting defence sleeping and he sprinted clear on his way to the tryline only to be hauled down illegally deemed the referee so resulted in a penalty try.
With full time approaching Dunbar redoubled their efforts and again made inroads into the home team’s twenty-two and the ball was finally moved to Rory Dowding to power over from close range. A successful drop=goal conversion from Gregor Raonan brought the game to a conclusion.
A competitive match with Dunbar displaying great patience and confidence in their fitness and gameplan to overcome their hosts securing the full five points available.
Attention now turns to the visit from near neighbours and league leaders Haddington to Hallhill which will hopefully provide the expectant big crowd with a game to remember.
