Tennent's Caledonia Region League, Division One:

Dunfermline 55 Blairgowrie 0

DUNFERMLINE captain Cammy Dunn was full of praise for his team's defensive effort after they racked up a bonus-point win over Blairgowrie.

The McKane Park side ran in nine tries – five of which came before the interval – to seal a fine victory over the Angus visitors to move to within one point of league leaders Orkney, albeit having played two games more.

Third-top Dunfermline kept faith with a number of the side that had offered plenty of encouragement despite the 30-19 reverse at Caithness – one place above them – last time out, and they made a fast start.

There were only six minutes on the clock when Hamish Wood crossed the whitewash for the hosts' first score of the afternoon, and that was soon followed by another from James Brough following a period of pressure on the Blairgowrie line.

Adam Fraser kicked the extras – the wind having taken his conversion attempt after Wood's try wide – before Dunfermline, with the wind at their back in the opening period, crossed again through Stuart Roy.

Graeme Low, on the half-hour mark, and Lewis Cumming, four minutes later after accepting Fraser's pass to run in from 40 metres, both went over before the interval to increase the McKane men's advantage to 31-0.

Harvey Gardiner then scored twice, either side of a score from Andy Dick, before Cumming grabbed his second of the day, which was converted by Fraser.

A disappointing day for the visitors saw them finish with 14 men after a late yellow card but Dunn was pleased with his side's efforts.

"Our defence held up again; we're really chuffed with our defensive effort and to hold them to nil," he commented.

"It says a lot that, when we were 40 points up, the opposition are opting for a shot at goal to get away from the nil (score). We are aware that points difference could come into play so the defensive effort was huge. Getting the bonus point in the first half gave us the licence to play in the second.

"It was quite windy; we had that at our backs in the first half and we used it to our advantage in a way. It allowed us to get good territory gains and into areas we were able to play from.

"It was good to see a variety of tries. There were a few forward ones where we had to power through and a couple that were scored out wide."

Dunfermline's first XV now take a break until December 4, when they return to action at Glenrothes.

In Tennent's Caledonia Midlands Region League Division Three, Dunfermline's second XV came out on top in a local derby with Rosyth Sharks.

Home team Sharks are playing their matches at McKane Park following the fire at their Harley Street clubhouse in March, and they were on the end of a 29-10 defeat.

This weekend, the only action involving local clubs sees Dunfermline's ladies travel to Dundee Valkyries in the Tennent's Caledonia Midlands/East Region League on Sunday, with kick-off at 2pm.