Rugby: Dunfermline beat Perthshire in National League Division Four

DUNFERMLINE racked up a second successive win in National League, Division Four with a five-point victory over Perthshire.

The McKane Park club's first XV successfully built on their triumph at home to Murrayfield Wanderers seven days previously with a second try-scoring bonus point success in their third match of the campaign.

Gavin Emerson's side made a bright start at North Inch, scoring the afternoon's first try, and went on to establish a 15-12 lead at half-time.

They then outscored their opponents by 12 points to 10 after the break to complete their victory, which delighted their head coach.

"It was a tough one and a really good one from the guys," Emerson told Press Sport.

"It was pleasing, and it was the most pleased that the coaches have been after a game so far this season. Perthshire are a physical team, but the boys stuck to the task and beat them in certain areas of the park with their physicality, which was pleasing.

"We started off really well and got the first seven points on the board, but both teams gave away a lot of penalties. We played some good rugby for the majority of the game and it's our first away win in the national league, which is good for the confidence of the team.

"It keeps that belief and feeling that we deserve to here and that we can compete at this level.

"Perthshire did us a few times in the breakdown, and sneaked a couple of scores, so that's something we'll need to work on this week.

"We're only three games in but we're at the right end of the table, so we just need to keep plugging away. We've got two games at home over the next two weeks, so it's a good chance to get a couple more wins under our belt before we start to play some of the longer away games.

"We did well at the weekend. I have to praise the boys, because they've put in the hard work, and took it out onto the pitch."

This Saturday, Dunfermline welcome Stewartry, who last season defeated the McKane men in the semi-finals of the National Shield.

The Castle Douglas based team have won each of their first three fixtures, securing a bonus point in one of them, to sit second in the table behind early pacesetters Garnock.

"They've started well, winning three from three, and now they come to McKane, the reverse of the game last season," Emerson noted.

"It will be a tough one, but one that we are capable of winning. I'm buzzing for it. I said months ago that we can beat Stewartry, and I still think that, but we need to play and earn that.

"We need to be on top of our game. It's an exciting few weeks ahead."

Kick off on Saturday is at 3pm.

Elsewhere, Dunfermline's second XV endured a tough start to their Caledonia Midlands Region League, Division Two, campaign, losing 43-17 at home to Alloa, whilst the women's side saw their winning start to the Caledonia Midlands / East Region League Two campaign end with a 17-7 loss at Lismore.

The second XV are not in action this week, but the women host Kirkcaldy on Sunday at McKane, with kick off scheduled for 2pm.