Tennent’s Caledonia Region League, Division One:

Dunfermline 15

Grangemouth Stags 7

DUNFERMLINE made it a magnificent seventh win in a row to move 11 points clear at the top of the table thanks to a hard-earned win over Grangemouth Stags.

Stuart Brown’s team have enjoyed an excellent run of form, which has also brought them wins over Orkney, Aberdeen Wanderers and Ellon in 2022, and secured their 11th of the campaign which was almost as tight in terms of scoreline as their previous meeting with the Stags in October.

Five points separated the teams that day in a 31-26 Dunfermline success, and the gap at McKane was only eight points by the full-time whistle.

The hosts, looking once again to take advantage of nearest challengers Orkney not having a match, made the ideal start with just five minutes gone when Harvey Gardiner went over for their first try.

The ever-reliable boot of Adam Fraser added the additional two points before he kicked over a 27th-minute penalty to give his side a 10-0 half-time lead.

Early in the second half, Craig McKenzie went over on the left to add another five points to Dunfermline’s total, but the conversion attempt, kicked into the wind, fell just short of the posts.

The visitors then began to enjoy some pressure and were rewarded when they scored and converted a try with an hour gone, minutes after Fraser had been sent to the sin bin after receiving a yellow card.

Dunfermline, though, saw out the victory to extend their lead at the summit, although Orkney, on 40 points, have played four fewer matches.

The first XV are in action next on February 19 at Blairgowrie.

In Caledonia Midlands Region League, Division Three, Rosyth Sharks enjoyed a second win of the season against Montrose/Arbroath. Leading 12-10 at half-time, the home side thought that they had drawn 31-31 but, after a dramatic recount by the referee, they were declared winners by two points.

Dunfermline’s second XV, who are second in the table, also won, 34-7 win at Perthshire second XV.

In Division Four, though, Dunfermline’s third XV went down 59-28 to Bo’ness.