Tennent’s Men’s Caledonia Region League, Division One:

Caithness 5 Dunfermline 28

DUNFERMLINE are closing in on the Tennent’s Men’s Caledonia Region League, Division One, title and promotion after a vital win at Caithness.

Gavin Emerson’s side made the long trek to Thurso last weekend and, after collecting a bonus-point win, know that the same return from their final two games will clinch the championship.

However, their penultimate fixture, scheduled to be against Aberdeen Wanderers at McKane Park, has been postponed due to a frozen pitch.

After winning at nearest challengers Ellon the week before, the McKane Park club’s first XV embarked on their longest away trip of the season, their preparations aided by an overnight stay in Inverness the day before.

That proved invaluable as, despite a difficult pitch and going behind in the match, which saw a senior debut for Andrew Storie, as well as losing a man to the sin bin, Dunfermline scored the four tries they wanted to keep themselves in pole position to win the league.

“We had a really good week of training,” Emerson told Press Sport.

“The club invested in the boys getting up to Inverness on Friday night. We had a nice hotel stay, dinner was sorted for the boys, breakfast was sorted, so the boys were as fresh as we could get them for, then, just the two-hour drive up to Thurso.

“It was really good; it was the best preparation we could have possible.

“We got moved onto the second pitch at Caithness, just due to their first XV pitch being waterlogged, which wasn’t good. It had a big slope right to left right across the pitch, so the middle of the pitch was like running through a ploughed field if you like, which didn’t make it easy for our guys, especially as we like to use the width, and we like to get our fast guys with the ball in hand.

“It was difficult but we started really well. We just couldn’t get over the line in the first half but there was no question that we were going to lose that game. It was just, were we going to get the four tries to secure the bonus point?

“We lost one man to the sin bin, just from an error, so we made it hard for ourselves. From that, they then got the score that put them in front for a wee bit but I think that got the boys reconnected and going into the game.

“We got five tries, we got the bonus point, but we left it to the end. I was like, guys, if I’ve not any grey hair, I’m sure I’ve got grey hair now! It was nailbiting.

“Credit to the boys. They kept their composure, they believed in themselves, they believed in the pattern, and we got that big away win."

Emerson continued: "It was our last big away trip and we've now bonus pointed all of them.

"It really shows how far the guys have come this season, because, last season, they lost all those big away trips, and that was the difference between winning the league and losing the league.

"The boys had a big celebration on the bus on the way back but, for me, it was more just a relief than a celebration, just to get that game out the way and move on to these final two.

"Caithness are a completely different beast at home. They had a big, strong pack. Our boys, we dug deep. Our scrum was an absolute beast, which gave the backs a good platform.

"Had it been on an August, September afternoon, when the pitch was nice and firm, I'm fairly confident the score would be a lot higher in our favour.

"It just shows the boys we can perform our game plan in any sort of condition, we just need to maybe focus a little bit more.

"We're not having to dig too deep to cover lots this week. It's just a bit of fine tuning, and just looking at some personnel changes due to injury or unavailability for the weekend.

"We're in a great position - we just need the weather to get on board."

Meanwhile, in Caledonia Midlands Region League, Division Three, Rosyth Sharks lost 26-21 at Crieff and Strathearn.

Their game this afternoon, against Howe Crusaders, has also been postponed.