DUNFERMLINE Rugby Club's title hopes are slipping away as their nearest challengers moved closer to claiming the championship.

The men's first XV had been leading the way in the Tennent's Caledonia Region League Division One but they were leapfrogged by Orkney on Saturday, who could clinch promotion today.

The McKane Park outfit completed their 16-match league programme at the beginning of last month, hammering Caithness 64-14 at home to secure a bonus-point victory.

Stuart Brown's team finished with nine successive wins and ended their season with an unblemished home record, which included a memorable 11-7 defeat of Orkney at the start of January.

Having registered 13 wins, seven of which included a bonus point, and three defeats, one of which saw them secure a losing bonus point, the McKane men were in pole position for a potential return to Tennent's National League Division Three.

Dunfermline have not performed at that level since being relegated in 2015 but, despite holding a 15-point advantage over Orkney, their rivals had five more games to play.

Favours elsewhere have not been forthcoming, however, as the Orcadians have gone on to win each of their three games played since Dunfermline's last, which included an emphatic 98-8 win over bottom side Glenrothes on Saturday.

That bonus-point victory moved them to 60 points – level with Dunfermline – but, crucially, they now sit top of the table on points difference, which is 61 better off.

Orkney have two games left, at Aberdeen Wanderers on Saturday, then at Grangemouth Stags a week later, and just one point, or losing by less than 60 points difference, will see them crowned as champions.

Meanwhile, there has been reasons to cheer for Dunfermline's women's side, who won their third successive game recently to end their Bowl competition campaign in style.

Having beaten Liberton 12-0 last month, which was their first competitive victory, followed by a 59-17 win over the Midlands Development team, they ran out 26-5 winners at Bishopton on April 3.

In what was a physical content, one try each from captain Sheryl Wilson and Kirsty Venter, and two from Kayleigh Laing, as well as three successful conversions from Megan Potter, ensured the McKane Park ladies enjoyed another winning feeling.

They are set to return to competitive action in September but, speaking to Press Sport after the win over Liberton, Wilson emphasised that training sessions – which will resume next Wednesday (April 20) – are open to anyone.

"I’ve never been part of such a friendly sport before, and Dunfermline ladies are such a friendly bunch," she said.

"I’d encourage anybody to come down. Even if they join for the fitness aspect, and they're not competitive at the start, we'll never turn anyone away. There’s no pressure to get on the pitch; a lot of people come down just for the social aspect.

"Rugby is a game for all shapes, sizes and abilities."

For more information on the club, and how to get involved, visit the Dunfermline Rugby Football Club Facebook page.