Published: Thursday, 11th September, 2008 08:45
Dunfermline need more bite in league campaign
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Dunfermline 19 Garnock 26
MY BARK’S WORSE THAN MY BITE: Dunfermline got their teeth into the match against Garnock at the weekend but silly errors cost them the game
DUNFERMLINE'S home league campaign started with defeat on Saturday as newly promoted Garnock came away from McKane Park with full points.
The home side decided to play into the strong wind for the opening 40 and started well with a strong set piece and some excellent forward play, the ideal game plan in the conditions.
After one of the opening forages into the Garnock half, a slack piece of play, which riddled the home side all day, gave the visitors easy possession which they hoofed down field and resulted in their scrum half winning a foot race against a despairing home defence.
Undeterred, Dunfermline went back to their game plan and showed they were comfortable containing the visitors despite the wind advantage.
However, once again they allowed Garnock easy points, this time poor kicking from O’Connor then Bruton giving Garnock’s number 10 an easy run in for a 12-0 lead.
Dunfermline were able to maintain some pressure in the Garnock 22 and came away with a try for centre Warren Daly.
At 12-5 the home side would have been happy to get to half-time but one more gift wrapped try allowed Garnock a 19-5 lead.
A mix up at the back of a scrum saw the ball somehow bobble into the hands of the opposition open side who showed a fantastic burst of pace to run in from 40 metres out.
Dunfermline started the second half in perfect style with a score for wing Ross Neill, who finally touched down after play that saw the ball pass through many pairs of hands.
O’Connor added the extras. At this point it looked like the home side would continue their good play and finish with a win their play deserved.
But more slack play in midfield gave Garnock their only possession in the Dunfermline half during the second 40, and unfortunately it led to another easy seven points.
Dunfermline had to show plenty of resilience in an effort to win this easily winnable game, and after Gareth McColl crashed over with 20 minutes left things looked hopeful. But more errors, missed opportunities and superb defence meant the home side came away with only a losing bonus point.
This weekend they travel to Livingston whey they can easily get back on track if they can cut down on their error count.
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