HOWE OF FIFE 20 KIRKCALDY 14

The Blues had the better of the forward exchanges and dominated the second half territorially of this Caledonia Regional Cup pool game only to see much of their hard earned possession squandered by some poor passing and inaccurate handling by an unhappy back division. While Howe were on the defensive for long periods of the game their backs carried a menace every time they control of the ball, regularly threatening to counter attack. Their ability to move out of defence did just enough for them to deserve the win.

Since Kirkcaldy and Howe resumed league fixtures just over a year ago after a thirty year break the sides have now played each other four times. While Howe have won all four games their winning margins have become smaller and the Blues will be looking forward to their next visit to Duffus Park when they return on league business in March.

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A second Howe try wasn’t long delayed. Slack Kirkcaldy marking on the wing let full back Euan Jack race downfield to score an unconverted try This could have ended the game as a contest but in stepped the Kirkcaldy pack to control the scrummages. Just before half time heavy pressure in the Howe 22 saw the Cupar side concede a series of penalties culminating in the referee running to the posts to indicate a penalty try converted by Letham.

Now just 12-7 behind the Blues stared the second half in positive enough mood but were unfortunate to have flanker Liam Neilson yellow carded. While he was in the bin Howe scored their third try against the run of play by winger Graeme Imrie Just before Neilson returned Howe lost Chris Mason to the bin and this signalled another Kirkcaldy scrummaging onslaught. They should have narrowed the leeway on the hour mark with a reasonable penalty but chose to go for touch, only to lose the ball at the line-out.

Their pressure paid off in the 74th minute with a try by Rab van Rensberg converted by Letham which eft them only four points in arrears. Howe nerves were steadied three minutes with a Martin penalty.

In an extended period of added time the Blues almost snatched victory when full back Kurt Littlejohn broke away. dancing around a series of defenders only to fall at the last hurdle.

TEAMS

Howe of Fife

E Jack, G Johncock, G Thomson, A Guthrie, G Imrie, D Martin, C Dow, Sr, M Keeble, G Steadman, B Runciman, D Wallace, A Steven, A Wilson, R Drummond

Replacements:- E Bisset, J Aitcheson, C Mason, F Clark

Kirkcaldy:- K Littlejohn, G Welsh, M Wallace, C Mann, R Hancock, C Letham, G McKenzie, M Thomson, G Wallace, W Gray, S Orr, G Brooksbank, L Neilson, R van Rensberg, M Harvey

Replacements:- G Mangalo, S Oliver, D Guthrie, A Raeside

REFEREE:- D McClement (WSSRS)

STAR CHECK

3 Matt Harvey

2 Liam Neilson

1 Mark Thomson

Cumulative

22 Harvey

11 M Wallace

10 Neilson

5 Turner

3 Mann, Littlejohn, G Wallace

2 Letham, Fisher, Girdler, Orr

1 Oliver, Harper, Wilson, McKenzie, Gray. Mangalo, Thomson