The second outing for Dalkeith in the Tennents East League div 3 season was again an away fixture with Edinburgh University Medics welcoming Dalkeith to Peffermill. Conditions were clear and bright with a blustery cross wind. As the Dalkeith Second XV had a fixture, away to Ross High, Dalkeith brought a 1st XV squad of 20 to the match, while the home team fielded a squad of 19.

Dalkeith took the kick off and were duly awarded a penalty when Medics infringed at the breakdown after running out of their 22. Dalkeith kicked to corner, won the line out and were awarded a second penalty when the maul collapsed. They chose to scrum and, from the resulting ruck, drove over the Medic line. However, the ball was adjudged to have been held up so Medics got the 5m scrum and then a penalty which allowed them to clear their lines. Five minutes gone and, keen to maintain their territorial advantage, Dalkeith pushed Medics off their own ball on the home 10m line. The home team scrambled it into touch on their 22. Dalkeith took their throw at the line and from the resulting ruck, Hooker, Greig Jackson went blind, passed out to Stevie Halliday who fed on for winger, Robbie Lockhart, to score out wide. The try went unconverted but first blood to Dalkeith with 10 mins gone.

The next twenty minutes saw no further scores as the match swung from one half to the other. Neither side was able to gain the upper hand as a series of penalties and breakdowns led to a scrappy game that was a poor spectacle for the fans of either team. On the half hour the medics kicked a penalty to the Dalkeith 5m line and from the ensuing line-out worked the ball across the park for a score in the opposite corner. They missed the conversion so the score was tied at 5 a piece. Stung by this, Dalkeith renewed their efforts and after a short period of pressure were rewarded with a penalty that they kicked to the corner. Securing their own throw the forwards worked the ball across the Medics 22. The defending team gave away a penalty and Dalkeith elected for the scrum in front of the posts. Under pressure the Medics forwards conceded a second penalty. A second scrum and Dalkeith’s superior strength up front allowed them to walk the ball over the line and No 8, Keiran Cooney went down for the score. Mike Wilson Converted and, after 38 mins, Dalkeith were back in front, 12 points to 5. The half ended with no further scoring.

The second period got under way and the game see-sawed up and down the field as Medics sought to narrow the gap and the visitors looked to stretch it. An injury to winger James Howden led to a shuffle in the Dalkeith back line and Sub, Kris Tokarski, coming on at centre. With 14 minutes of the half gone, it was a spell of indiscipline from the home side that proved their undoing, successive penalties allowed Dalkeith to kick their way deep into Medics territory. A third infringement. Dalkeith elected to scrum and the forwards walked it over the line in the corner, Scrum-half, Piotr Tokarski, touched the ball down for the easiest try of the day. The conversion was well taken in the windy conditions by Mike Wilson and Dalkeith were back in the Driving seat 19 to 5.

The Home side fought to get back into the game while Dalkeith were looking for that elusive bonus point score. However, a series of mistakes and penalties from both sides meant the game lost momentum once again. At last, with 30 minutes gone and the final quarter slipping away, Dalkeith secured ball from a line on the Medics 22. A ruck formed and scrum-half Piotr Tokarski, picked up and went with his brother Kris on his shoulder. He poked a deft chip through, the chase followed and Kris gathered the bouncing ball before forcing his way over the line. The try went unconverted but the bonus point was secured.

Five minutes later and the game went beyond doubt when Greig Jackson, Dalkeith’s Man of the Match, drove over from a 5m line for another unconverted try. With the game all but done, Dalkeith relaxed and took their eye off the ball allowing the Medics one last flourish that saw them finish with a, converted try. Final score Medics 12 v 29 Dalkeith.

A harder test for Dalkeith this week. The Medics were a tougher outfit than Earlston had been the week before. Coach, Neill Wood, stated himself satisfied with the result, if not the penalty count, but said there was still a lot to work on. Nevertheless, two away fixtures and two bonus point wins. To add icing to the Dalkeith cake, the Second XV also won away from home with a 10 v 5 victory at Ross High. All in all a pretty good week for the Greens.