Dunfermline 27 Caithness 42

DUNFERMLINE assistant coach Iain Spence is certain that their fortunes will turn despite suffering a third defeat of the season on Saturday.

The McKane Park men, now under the guidance of new coach Mark Dobson, went down to a 42-27 loss to Caithness to leave them still searching for their first win in BT Caledonia League Division One.

The Highland visitors ran in six tries against the Blues and, although they managed to secure a bonus point for the second successive game, Spence believes that decision-making is letting them down.

They were left to rue individual errors – and a failure to capitalise on a 14-14 half-time score – in their opener with Alloa while a failure to capitalise on an interval lead and seeing chances go begging saw them snatch defeat from the jaws of victory against Grangemouth Stags.

Dunfermline led 14-5 in the BT Caledonia Shield clash, and extended it further in the second half but, just as they appeared to have claimed a notable win, a late try saw Grangemouth dramatically level at 24-24 before the conversion attempt added the winning two points.

But Spence sees signs of progress and told Press Sport: “We’ve got a lot of young backs in the team and a few boys have been unavailable, so it’s difficult but we’ve been in positions where we could have won games but have not closed them out.

“It’s about improving and for us to improve the players through coaching, but the guys are putting so much effort in on and off the park. That’s pleasing to see so I’m sure things will turn.

“We’ve had a few boys playing in different positions, and maybe their decision-making lets them down at times, but there has been a positive change in culture, so it will come for us. Training numbers are up in the 30s and I’ve been at Dunfermline for seven seasons now and it’s the first time I can remember that happening.”

This afternoon, Dunfermline are on the road when they travel to Strathmore, with kick-off at 3pm.

Meanwhile, there was joy for the second XV as they recorded a fine 42-7 win over Portobello.