North Berwick vs Dunfermline Match Report

North Berwick started National League action in the way the finished last season with an impressive win over fellow national league newcomers Dunfermline. NB ran in 6 tries at recreation Park to finish 40:19 winners and secure 5 league points. A large crowd enjoyed free flowing rugby in the sunshine and the applause for the team at the final whistle was well deserved.
This was the first outing in national league and the pack set the tone from the off. From the first lineout in the opposition half the ball was secured by Boswell and the driving maul made 15 metres towards the Dunfermline line before the release to the backs. Slick passing resulted in Olly Bonnington going over for the first try 5 minutes in. A similar forward and backs interchanged followed on 10 mins when multi-phase ruck ball was released to stand off Alex Williams to hit the line at pace and jink over for try number 2. 12-0 NB. NB were not to have it all their own way and Dunfermline responded well with good possession and developed their own multi structure forward play. NB defence was well organised and held strong but phase after phase eventually resulted in a short-range score for the Dunfermline No8 on 20 mins. 12-7 NB. Both teams settled into a rhythm and matched each other until Dunfermline broke the NB defence through a similar phase upon phase of pressure through their big forward pack. They received reward when on 40 mins they scored again through a short-range crash ball for their second try . 12-14 on the half time whistle. Both teams looked well matched although it was the North Berwick team that grabbed the initiative with a great team try. Superb running support lines allowed offload after offload with excellent interchanges resulting in Rohan Chapman scoring under the posts to put NB back into the lead 10 mins after the restart. 19-14 NB. Chapman scored his second on 60 mins when the forwards overpowered Dunfermline at the scrum and the No8 was on hand to pick up and drive over. The NB scrum and Line outs functioned well all day 26-14 NB. NB continued to move the ball at every opportunity and when McCashin gathered a kick just inside his own half he found a gap and glided past the first two defenders before finding Nick Hart on his inside who in turn drew the final defender and Chapman was on hand for this hattrick. 33-14 NB. Alex Williams finished off the NB try scoring shortly thereafter when Iain Dove , who made impact tackles and line breaks all day, went through a gap and passed inside to the stand off for another well worked score. Williams converted 5 from 6 conversions in the match and whilst Dumdermline ran in a late try on full time the 40:19 result was just what the NB team need to start their season. NB play fellow East Lothian side Ross High Next week at Tranent.