Late collapse costs Dunfermline dear
Published 10 Oct 2012 17:00
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Dunfermline 16 Greenock Wanderers 33
A LATE collapse saw Dunfermline slump to a defeat at home to Greenock Wanderers as they dropped to second-bottom of RBS Championship A.
Early exchanges were even with both sides running the ball in the bright autumn sunshine.
Dunfermline had the better of the forward exchanges with the scrimmage showing improvement over previous weeks.
The McKane Park side won a ruck on halfway and quickly moved the ball to Warren Daley, who released Scott Swankie to drive in from 25 metres. Gregor McNeish converted.
The West Fifers were playing with confidence and threatened again, only to concede a penalty allowing Wanderers to relieve the pressure.
An exchange of kicks resulted in a Dunfermline penalty on the visitors' 10-metres line which was thumped over by McNeish.
Wanderers secured a penalty in front of the posts when the home defence were adjudged to have failed to roll away in the tackle.
Wanderers converted which spurred on the visitors. They kicked for position and won a line-out on the Dunfermline five-metres line, giving space for Andrew McDougall to dive over. Tyley converted to level the score at half-time.
Wanderers knocked on from the restart. Winning the scrum Dunfermline probed the away defence and good forward support play secured a penalty which McNeish converted. The visitors immediately replied in kind with a penalty by Tyley.
Dunfermline continued to look for territory with a mix of tactical kicks and driving forward play which resulted in a further penalty on 20 metres, converted by McNeish.
A period of untidy play ensued with wayward kicking from both teams. The stalemate was broken with Wanderers kicking to the corner and winning successive lineouts, allowing Dougie Smith to drive over and take the lead.
Kicking for position, Wanderers were awarded a penalty for offside, converted easily by Tyley.
Back on the attack the visitors forced Dunfermline to try to run the ball out of defence. Inevitably play broke down and the loose ball was gathered by Matt Gray, who drove over.
The home side set about chasing the game to narrow the gap and again sought to run the ball from deep. Wanderers again forced an error, collected by centre Brendan McGroarty, who crossed close in. Tyley added the two points.
On Saturday Dunfermline travel to Dumfries Saints, 3pm kick off.
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