Ross High RFC v Dunbar RFC
Friday 31st October 2025
Match Report and Photographs by Alex Coull
Ross High 14 Dunbar 31
Dunbar made the short trip to Tranent last Friday for a National Shield Round 2 game under the floodlights. After a flurry of showers both teams took to the pitch to be met with positively mild conditions on a firm pitch which promised perfect conditions for running rugby.
It was the visitors who settled first, and a quickly taken penalty allowed forwards and backs to drive deep into the Ross High half, but they met strong defence which was rewarded with a penalty. Unfortunately incurred the wrath of the referee which allowed the home side to build pressure encamping themselves in Dunbar’s twenty-two, but the defence was equal to the home forwards attempts to burst their way through and a knock-on gave the visitors the opportunity to clear their lines.
Further Dunbar interplay between the forwards and backs saw the home side penalised at the breakdown and Robbie Cockburn opened the scoring by slotting his kick between the up[rights.
There then followed a period of aerial ping-pong with both teams relying on high clearance kicks to try and force a mistake. When the ball was kept in the hand both sides saw their defence being tested and the home side took advantage of yet another penalty to set up a lineout close to the Dunbar tryline. After securing possession the home forwards got their reward when Chris Tinlin was given the room to power over from close range. An excellent conversion kick clearly buoyed the home support taking the score to 7 – 3.
This score gave the home side confidence and a good breakout by Chris Tinlin took play into the Dunbar half but a lack of support allowed the visitors to quickly turn defence into attack and Mike Wimbledon-Hall broke through only for his inside pass to be dropped with the tryline in full view. The resulting scrum saw the clearance kick fail to find touch and a sweeping blindside counterattack saw the ball moved to John Peebles who side-stepped his way past the last line of defence to stroll over for an excellent try. Robbie Cockburn converted, and Dunbar had regained the lead.
This score clearly galvanised Dunbar and they attacked at every opportunity and when Mike Wimbledon-Hall took the crash-ball pass hitting the line at pace taking him well clear of the home defenders to score near the corner. An excellent kick saw Dunbar’s lead increased to ten points.
The home side manfully stuck to their defensive chores, but another excellent handling move saw the pass inside to Gregor Ronan who outstripped the covering defence to score under the posts. Robbie Cockburn’s successful conversion saw half time reached and Dunbar leading 7 – 24.
Half time saw a medical emergency resulting in treatment for a watching home spectator so naturally there was a short delay in the second half restarting.
Dunbar continued to test the home defence and next to shine was Rowan Armatage who drove deep into Ross High’s twenty-two, but the home sides aggressive defence saw them rewarded with a penalty. The home side then enjoyed a short spell of pressure, and it took a last-ditch tackle to deny the home wing forwards surging run. The visitors were guilty of being offside and after a series of driving mauls it was Chris Tinlin who again displayed good strength to plough over from close range for a deserved try. The conversion kick sailed between the posts and the score was now 14 – 24.
Next to shine was the home No.8 who broke clear from a scrum and set off on a strong run which saw desperate Dunbar defence rewarded with a penalty for not releasing in the tackle.
As we entered the last quarter it was Rowan Armatage who had yet another barnstorming run but the chance was lost when the wrong option of a grubber kick saw the opportunity lost.
Undeterred Dunbar kept up the pressure and after a series of forward drives the ball was moved swiftly on the blindside allowing John Peebles to streak away and finally touch down under the bar for his second try. Gregor Ronan slotted over the conversion.
Once possession had been secured from the kick-off it was an excellent grubber kick by Gregor Ronan which saw a lineout awarded close to the home tryline. Unfortunately, the chance went begging as Dunbar were unable to retain possession and the home side gratefully cleared their lines.
An eventful game was ended when the floodlights failed close to full time and after a short discussion the referee brought the game to a finish.
A competitive game which saw both sides enjoy spells of excellent defence, but it was the greater variety and threat posed by the Dunbar backs and forwards which saw them ultimately break down the home sides resistance.
Dunbar have a weekend off before getting prepared for a home game against Murrayfield Wanderers on the 15th of November.