Published: Thursday, 19th March, 2009 1:13pm

Dunfermline scrape past strugglers

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Dunfermline 15 - 12 Livingston

DUNFERMLINE Rugby Club"s stuttering end to the season continued on Saturday when they struggled to beat bottom-of-the-table Livingston, without a point all season, at home.

In a game that the home team would have hoped to score a bonus point win, they barely scraped together enough pressure to gain the late penalty for the undeserving victory.

The game started with Dunfermline continuing in the same vein as last week"s defeat at Morgan, with a series of mistakes. From the kick off, poor half back play resulted in Livingston being awarded a scrum deep in the home 22, from which they eventually rumbled over for a converted score.

Dunfermline again showed a good appetite at the set piece but again the back division, with the exception of Warren Daly, failed to affect the game in any way.

Thankfully, the pressure the forwards were able to apply meant Livingston were prone to giving away penalties which Ali O"Connor knocked over regularly.

At 7-3 and with Dunfermline looking a little more composed, it looked like they would take a grip of the game but with another series of individual errors Livingston scored their second try to take a nine-point lead.

O"Connor scored his second penalty just before the half to give the home side some hope.

The second half, while dominated by the home team, did not make the home supporters feel the game was won until the final whistle.

A trio of penalties through the half gave Dunfermline the victory and a three-point lead in the race for the second promotion spot, however performances are going to have to improve if they want to secure promotion.

There is no game this weekend though closest rivals Hillhead take on champions Kirkcaldy which could make a difference in the league outcome.

Next week Dunfermline play Ardrossan at home with a 3pm kick off.