DUNFERMLINE gave their chances of BT National League Three survival a huge boost with an excellent victory at Royal High Corstorphine on Saturday.

Derek O’Riordan’s men turned on the style in appalling conditions in the capital to secure a much-needed bonus point win that lifts them into 10th place, just two points adrift of fourth-bottom Hawick YM and safety.

Tries from Adam Nicol, Graeme Lowe, Liam Quarm and Zac Zropf saw Dunfermline turn the tables on RHC after their 43-17 win in September and the McKane coach hailed the performance as arguably their “best in two years”.

They now face a crunch relegation battle at home to second-bottom Dalziel and O’Riordan said, “We didn’t give them a sniff in the second half and as they tired, they got frustrated and we attacked well.

“We played the conditions and defended really well in the first half. In conditions like that you generally can concede 12-15 points but we conceded eight, which was a really good first half.

“There is a lot of pressure on the Dalziel game and when we run hard, defend and carry the ball at speed then we do well.

“But if we don’t then we allow teams to dominate and that will be a deciding factor on Saturday.

“We should be able to put in a performance and I feel we have a slightly easier run-in than Dalziel and Hawick YM, so we need to make sure we get a win and increase the gap on Dalziel to six points.” The visitors, playing into a fierce wind and driving snow, weathered some early RHC pressure but Dunfermline’s defence restricted them to a penalty from Euan Morrison.

They eventually broke through as the centre released Fraser Thomson to run in from 30 metres for an unconverted try.

Dunfermline again responded well and although a break by Martin Punter was held up short, they exercised a hold and drive from a five-metre lineout to give Nicol the touchdown to narrow the gap to three points before half-time.

O’Riordan’s team started the second half brightly and a break from fly half Zropf released Lowe at a good angle to score under the posts, with the Australian number 10 booting over the extras.

Having faced the wind in the opening period, Dunfermline began to use the elements to their advantage.

Despite missing a penalty from 30 metres, the Fifers soon added their third try as a line-out 15 metres from the whitewash was driven forward and allowed Quarm to cross on the right.

The visitors were looking comfortable and after RHC could only muster another wayward penalty attempt, Dunfermline sealed the bonus point success.

The resultant drop out gave RHC a second chance as the kick was charged down but as they attempted to move the ball, Zropf intercepted and ran 75 metres to score.

O’Riordan added, “In the second half we won the territorial battle and to do what we did with that wind was phenomenal.

“There wasn’t as much pressure on us in that game and we were the underdogs, and I think we need to go in with that same mentality on Saturday.

“I want them to go out, play rugby and express themselves and I should be able to select pretty much the same squad. It’d maybe be a bit silly for a coach to change a winning formula.”