Dunbar 14 v Livingston 19

Livingston kicked off the second half of the season with what was always going to be a tough trip to East League Rivals Dunbar , With a growing injury list including the likes of key players like Aussie Number 8 Aaron Johnston and influential backs Ross Neil and Geoff Caldwell, Livi had too once again shuffle around the team and kicked off on a crisp but dry day with no less than 4 enforced changes from the derby victory the week before.

Although their is not much to be critical of of in performances this season , Livi have been guilty of being very slow starters away from home and this game proved to be no different , From the kick off it looked bright with the boys in blue pushing into the opposition half and putting together a number phases of play and within 3 minutes had the first opportunity of points when the home side were penalised in front of their own posts , up stepped Dean Edwards who duly slotted to bring the score to 3-0 to Livi.

However as in many other matches Livi let the home side back into it and some nice play by Dunbar who were using the pitch very well and after good ruck ball Stand off Jamie Peters found Number 8 Calum Champion who cut through the Livi defence to score in the corner, Peters hit the conversion to give Dunbar a lead of 7-3. after 8 Minutes. This gave the home side some confidence and pushed into the Livi half again this time Peters who was controlling the game well again pushed down the blindisde and fed Flanker Clutton who evaded the Livi tackles far too easily and strolled under the posts to give Peters and easy conversion that he duly took to extend the lead to 14-3 within only 12 minutes. Dunbar kept pushing however in front of the frustrated travelling support Livi began waking up into the game and started pushing pushing back into Dunbar's Half , Then on 28 minutes Half Backs Bolan and Bruton moved the ball from left to right and then from a ruck switched the play and the ball out to Andy McMahon allowing the centre to power over for his 10th Try of the season to calm the nerves of the livi faithful , Edwards missed the conversion and the score stood at 14-8 , They game then ebbed and flowed for the next 10 minutes with both teams exerting some good pressure and the organised Dunbar team had a number of penalty chances that luckily for Livi went a begging although they still went into the break with the lead.

The Livi players knew they would have to pick up in the second half to ensure the kept their unbeaten record and from the outset they looked like they had been given the kick up the backside they needed and showed some of the desire and power that had broken down teams throughout the season. Within the first 10 minutes of the Half Livi had 2 chances , one which was knocked on and another held up by a determined Dunbar defence however minutes later Livi found the crack they needed and after quick ruck ball Stand off Bolan used his strength to cross , Edwards conversion went wide but Livi were right back in it at 14-13. Livi were now controlling the game winning good set piece ball at scrum and lineout and pushing hard at every opportunity and after a infringement by the home pack Bolan hit a penalty to bring the score to 16-14 and give Livi the lead for the first time since the 7th mInute. The men in Blue then extended the lead only minutes later when a high tackle gave Edwards the opportunity which he duly took to extend the lead to 19-14.

Dunbar never stopped working hard but were finding it hard to win quality ball against a powerful Livi pack , this became even harder when Flanker Courtney was shown a yellow , This altercation also gave Edwards another opportunity but the Kick went wide and the home team managed to hang on to the losing bonus point. This was not one of Livi's better performance of the season but the boys showed plenty of heart to turn the game around against a Dunbar team who were well organised , used the tight pitch well and were well led by Stand Off Peters.

Coach Ferrier said " We always knew this was going to be a tough fixture and with a changed side we took some time to find our rhythm , It was definitely a game of 2 halves and once we knuckled down we had chances to make it a far more comfortable victory but credit to Dunbar for some good defence and working hard right to the end. I was particularly pleased with a set piece in the second half and special mention to replacement prop Marius Tamsoutias who has shown great improvement is his scrummaging."