Despite the heavy rain earlier in the week, the pitch was in excellent condition for the fixture. However, unfortunately for players and spectators alike the heavens opened shortly before kick-off and the match was played in an unremitting downpour.

This suited the bigger North Berwick forwards, and worked against the Duns backs as handling became a lottery in the cold, windy, slippery conditions.

Duns kicked off down the Hardens slope, into the teeth of a strong wind which, unusually, blew straight up the park.

The experienced North Berwick half-backs used the conditions to their advantage, constantly pegging Duns back with long clearance kicks, and the visitors' pack held the advantage at scrum and lineout where Duns were under pressure all afternoon.

North Berwick opened the scoring on 10 minutes when an overlap on the left allowed their full back to cross in the corner and an excellent conversion from the touchline gave the visitors a seven point lead.

For the remainder of the half it was mainly defensive duties for Duns, with only occasional forays into North Berwick territory.


The visitors' kicker had an excellent afternoon and kicked two penalties before half time, the second a super effort from fully 40 metres, to give his side the lead by 13-0 at the break.

Into the second period, and with the elements behind them, Duns would surely have hoped to overcome the deficit. Try as they might, however, they could not break down a very well-organised North Berwick defence, and they finished the match pointless - the first time Duns have been 'nilled' for more than a year.

A third penalty to North Berwick in the closing minutes gave the visitors a 16-0 win, and it is they, and not Duns, who lead the table after 11 matches. They must now fancy their chances of going on to win the league and gain promotion to National 3.

The Duns team was: Dale Robertson; Daniel Seed, Kevin Aitchison, Jamie Renton (captain) and David Hutchison; Ged Lamb and Danny Lamb; Barry Hamilton, Cammy Hill, Chris Archer, Jacobus van Wyk, Stuart Blyth, Richard Burns, Niko Pelasio and James Murphy.

The replacements were Kieran Renton, David Duncan, Allen Whellans and Andrew Anderson.

This Saturday there is a break from league action for the first round of the Scottish Hydro Regional Bowl.

Duns have been drawn away to Dalkeith in the last 16 of the East section of the Bowl, and the match will kick off at 12 noon at Dalkeith's King's Park pitch. Please try to make it to Dalkeith to support the team.