Rugby: Dunfermline lose to Linlithgow in National League Division Four

New Dunfermline Rugby Club head coach Andrew Royle saw his team lose their first home match of the season in narrow fashion to Linlithgow.

Competitive rugby for the senior men's first XV returned to McKane Park for the first time since March as they played their second National League Division Four fixture of the campaign.

They opened their season at Ellon, losing by a five-point margin, with a 24-19 scoreline, which saw them pick up a losing bonus point.

Dunfermline had drawn 29-29 with Linlithgow at home in January, having previously won the away fixture 41-28, last season, but the it was the West Lothian side who took home the spoils this time around.

Royle's side, however, started quickly, with Angus Thomson crossing the whitewash for their first try, only for Linlithgow to respond with a flurry of scores of their own.

Callum White went over before the half-time interval to score Dunfermline's second try and, while it kept them in touch, they trailed 33-14 at the break.

It was a second loss from as many games for Dunfermline at the start of the National League Division Four season. (Image: David Wardle.) The hosts produced a much-improved second half in which they kept the visitors out of the points entirely, and Thomson went over again to further eat into Linlithgow's lead.

Ethan Morgan also crossed the try line as the hosts embarked on a spirited comeback, but the early deficit proved too much as the away team held out for victory.

Dunfermline, though, collected a further losing bonus point, achieved for being beaten by seven points or less, and a try-scoring bonus point, having gone over for at least four scores.

After their opening two matches, the McKane Park outfit are eighth in the 10-team division, with three points, above both Stewartry and Moray, who are yet to get off the mark.

This Saturday, Dunfermline will embark on the long trip north to face Moray, with kick off at 3pm.