Duns kicked off down the slope on a perfect spring afternoon, in warm sunshine, dry underfoot conditions, and a light breeze at their backs.

The home side had beaten Dunbar no fewer than five times in the previous 18 months, but any hopes of an easy victory were quickly dispelled as the visitors showed that they are a good side, well worthy of their elevated league position.

The early exchanges were very even, with both sides showing a refreshing willingness to give the ball air at every opportunity.

However, more than a quarter of the match had elapsed before the first points were registered, when the Duns number 8 Stuart Blyth received a pass five metres out. He sidestepped the full back and touched down for his third try of the season, with Dale Robertson adding the conversion.

Dunbar came straight back at Duns, and levelled the scores with half an hour gone. From a linout five metres from the Duns line, their big prop Bissett barged his way over, leaving a trail of would-be tacklers in his wake, and a successful conversion tied the scores at 7-7. There was no further scoring prior to the interval.

The wind picked up after half time, and Dunbar used it to good effect to keep Duns hemmed inside their own 22. A Dunbar penalty midway through the half gave them a 10-7 advantage, but almost immediately there was a riposte from Duns.

From a lineout on the left the ball was spun along the back line to David Hutchison on the right wing, and Duns' version of the roadrunner took off up the park, rounded the full back and came around behind the posts for an excellent individual try, his 17th of the season.

Dale Robertson added the conversion and five minutes later he scored a penalty to take the Duns lead to 17-10.

Undaunted, Dunbar fought back and after a prolonged period of pressure they crossed for their second try of the afternoon, this time by Whiteman. The conversion was missed, as were a couple of penalty efforts by the visitors' kicker, which possibly cost his side the win.

With time running out, Dale Robertson added a second penalty to take his personal tally for the season to 176, equalling his best total from five seasons ago.

Try as they might, Dunbar were unable to find the match-winning score in the time remaining, and Duns now take a narrow one point lead over their visitors in the league table.

A few of the Dunbar players left immediately after the match to head off to Murrayfield for the Scotland v England international match. It is disappointing, however, that not one single player or official from the remaining Dunbar party was able to come to the clubrooms for refreshments after the match. There had been no bad feeling whatsoever during the game and their non-appearance was a slight on their hosts hospitality.

There is no match for Duns this weekend, with the next scheduled match being a return to Hawick Harlequins, this time with league points at stake, on March 27, followed by a mammoth away trip to Orkney in the Bowl quarter-final on April 3.

The team against Dunbar was:- Dale Robertson (captain); Daniel Seed, Kevin Aitchison, Scott Lindsay and David Hutchison; Ged Lamb and Danny Lamb; Allen Whellans, Cammy Hill, Chris Archer, Kobus van Wyk, James Weir, Russell Nimmo, Stuart Blyth and Richard Burns. The replacements were Scott McCraw, Barry Hamilton, Andrew Anderson, Dane Ivison and James Thorburn.

Saturday's match ball was kindly sponsored by Brian Bolton, Painer and Decorator.