North Berwick lost their opening game of the season away to Murrayfield Wanderers 40-10 on Saturday. There were several positives for North Berwick to take out of the game, but on the day wanderers proved to be too much of a challenge for them.

North Berwick travelled with a full squad of 22, all but of a handful of them under 25, a good sign for the future of the club that so much youth is coming through. Several players were on their debut for the first XV; Gregor Macintosh, Charlie Gill, Jamie Rowse, Jamie Sinclair and Cammy Fyfe.

The game was played on a very firm pitch, which resulted in a fast open game, the first try was scored by wanderers but north Berwick replied quickly with a try from Oliver "bono" Bonnington, the winger showing great speed to beat the defenders down the short side. Some ill discipline from North Berwick let Wanderers gain some territory which resulted in their second try of the match.

North Berwick's second try came next, a mistake in the midfield from wanderers led to an interception by Bonnington who again showed his pace to get away from the covering defence to touch down. The half finished with another try from Wanderers leaving the score 19-10.

North Berwick weren't to score again in the match, but they were not without their chances. But ultimately some loose carrying resulted in the ball not being retained and position being handed back time and again to wanderers.

Murray field would go on to score three tries in the second half, one a superb cross field kick that was taken on the move by the right winger, a good try at any level! And another a full pitch kick return by the left winger. North Berwick will feel it was a closer contest than the score suggests and without these two outstanding tries it may have been.

Though North Berwick will have things to work on before their first home game next week there were plenty of positives to take from it. The set piece went well, and improved as the game went on. The scrum started shaky but got tipped in North Berwick's favour as the game passed with Fraser Govan and "JJ" Wallace getting the better of their front row opponents by the second half. The line out too operated well with Woody Martin and Matthew Mcvey both lifting and jumping well, securing ball and disrupting opposition ball.

The backs too made good inroads throughout the match, if North Berwick had been able to retain more possession then its likely the backline would have had even more success, with strong carries and defence in the midfeild by Charlie Mayer and Charlie Gill (who had to leave the field after a high tackle broke his nose).

North Berwick will have to improve for their home game next week but there were plenty of positives for this young team to build on.