Leith 39 - 36 Dalkeith

Leith went into Saturday's encounter with Dalkeith not having beat the King's Park side since 2009, albeit spending much of that time in different leagues, and coming out the wrong side of a few close battles. With the two sides next to one another in the table, it was an opportunity to build on the previous week's victory over RDVC and establish some momentum going into the final five games ahead of the Christmas break, and despite missing several regulars from the squad, Leith came roaring out the blocks at the start of the first half.

The game was barely 5 minutes old when former Dalkeith player Steven Eadie came in off his wing to pick from the back of a ruck and scoot up the blind wing, before offloading to the returning Mike McLeish to open the scoring. Kenny Dannfald added the extras for a 7-0 lead, which added to a few minutes later when the backs moved the ball wide inside their own 22, and Dannfald put wing Andrew Paterson away to sprint home from halfway, the missed conversion extending the lead to 12-0.

A couple of infringements from the resulting kick off allowed Ben Wilkinson to stick the ball into the visitors 22, and from the lineout several phases later, Fergal MacNamara dived over in the corner, the halfback spotting a gap at the side of the ruck. Dannfald added the difficult conversion for a 19-0 lead. Dalkeith then opened their account for the afternoon, when after gaining territory towards the houses end, their winger went over in the corner for 19-5. The sides then swapped tries as man of the match McLeish popped up out wide, as any good 2nd row should (...) to put his winger, Eadie in from 30m, before Dalkeith worked the ball wide again to crash over from close range following a series of pick and drives. Leith had the final say of the half, as a long range break, and several offloads, the last from the inspired Eadie, who perhaps would've scored he had not slipped (stepped himself), to Wilkinson, and the standoff dived over near the posts for a half time lead of 28-10.

By half time Leith had lost Michele Crolla to a head knock, and Stevie Muirden to a rib injury, and despite the strong first half time lead, with several others playing through more minor injuries, there was concern that the depleted squad could see the game out -and despite starting the 2nd half well, Doug Watters putting Dannfald in for a 31-10 lead, Dalkeith, themselves doubtless unhappy with their first half showing, grew into the game, twice rumbling over from close range to bring the score back to 33-24. To compound matters, Paul Haggon was then shown a yellow card for an infringement at the same time as Leith were awarded the penalty - which Dannfald kicked for a 36-24 lead.

Leith then thought they'd out the game to bed when a sweeping move from right to left had the Watters/Dannfald combination in for another, which was incorrectly (but we would say that, sir!) ruled out for a forward pass earlier in the build up. A man to the advantage, Dalkeith stuck on the pressure at this point and their outside centre managed to ground the ball whilst falling in the tackle for 36-33. The returning Haggon then made amends with his second try saving tackle of the day, and some aggressive D (too aggressive in Joe O'Neil's case, as he went to the bin for the final couple of minutes) saw the ref blow for full-time with Leith edging a victory that earlier in the day had looked like it would be considerably more comfortable.

Credit to Dalkeith for their second half showing, and for a game, which despite our two cards was played in good spirit (honest!) Credit too to the Leith boys for rallying when down to 15 fit bodies, and getting a very welcome victory.

Next up the team have a break from league action, as they host North Berwick RFC in the 1st round (quarter final..) of the Edinburgh Shield.

Tries: Mike McLeish, Andrew Paterson, Fergal MacNamara, Steven Eadie, Ben WIlkinson, Kenny Dannfald
Conversions:Kenny Dannfald (3)
Penalty: Kenny Dannfald (1)