After Dalkeith’s huge league win only three weeks ago, Penicuik had an early chance for revenge on home turf, in this round 1 fixture of the SRU Regional Bowl Competition. Dalkeith were missing their captain Davidson to injury and lock Graham was offshore, but otherwise both teams were near to full strength.  

There was a tentative start from both teams, with Dalkeith’s usually reliable scrum looking shaky as they lost the first one against the head. However, resolute defence halts the home side’s progress and a then neat chip over the Penicuik defence gives Dalkeith great field position 10m out. After winning the line, Dalkeith put a couple of good phases together before Penicuik are dragged off side and Clugston chips over the easy penalty chance for a 0-3 lead.

Both teams are strangely subdued in what is usually a fiery local derby, with Dalkeith’s scrum problems limiting their decent possession and Penicuik’s backs lacking any spark with the decent ball coming their way. However, the home side are managing to test the offside line in defence and the referee pings them just outside the 22, but Clugston pulls the kick wide. 

The visitors scrum problems seem to have settled down and from stable possession Rae makes a great burst into the Penicuik 22 before offloading to Halliday who after a bullocking run, finds Duke on his shoulder for the opening try and a 0-10 Dalkeith lead, with Clugston’s conversion.

The game is coming to life now after a quiet opening quarter and Dalkeith are beginning to dominate possession after their early problems. The visitor’s backs are trying hard to find an opening, but the Penicuik defence seems sound, but Dalkeith do win themselves another penalty in front of the posts and Clugston accepts the easy chance to make things 0-13.

Just as they look like taking a healthy lead into halftime, Dalkeith contrive to give great field possession to the home pack after failing to deal with an innocuous kick through. After two strong scrums, the Penicuik pack drives the ball on and over for a home try, bringing things to 5-13 at half time.

The opening quarter of the second half is again dreary stuff, with Penicuik happy to rumble it up in the forwards and Dalkeith seemingly happy to continue to concede decent field position in allowing them to do so. The home pack does put together a couple of promising drives at the Dalkeith line, but Dalkeith hold out and Penicuik settle for taking a kickable penalty attempt to bring things to 8-13.

Although stuttering in attack, Dalkeith look to be handling the Penicuik offence reasonably confidently assuming that they can keep the home forwards out of their 22. However, a long range penalty attempt from Penicuik is handled badly by Dalkeith and in attempting to run out of defence they gift an interception try to Penicuik, who happily grab the lead for the first time at 15-13 with the conversion.

Things are finally hotting up and Dalkeith attack the defence at the kick-off, with Walker’s pace allowing him to charge down an attempted Penciuik clearance and then a penalty award gives the visitors great field position on the home 5m line. Two phases later and Montgomery barges over for the score and Dalkeith regain the lead at 15-18.

However, it’s not over yet, as Dalkeith again fail to deal with the kick off possession positively and again give the dangerous Penicuik forwards a great attacking position well inside the visitors 22. Dalkeith do recycle the ball, but a knock-on at their try line allows the home side to recycle possession  and charge over for a 20-18 lead, the missed conversion could prove to be crucial though.

Sure enough, Penicuik infringe from the Dalkeith re-start and although it’s a long way out, the penalty kick attempt is reasonably straight on and with time running down, Clugston chooses to give it a go. It’s struck beautifully and sails over and Dalkeith regain a 1 point lead at 21-20!

With only a couple of minutes remaining, Dalkeith finally field the re-start well and put some great phases together in bursting into the home half of the field. However, Penicuik snaffle possession and try to run out of defence, only to be pinged for crossing in the backs and Clugston has another chance to seal victory. However, his long range penalty attempt is missed, but the referee decides that he has seen enough and Dalkeith hold on to snatch a victory.

From looking in total control 30 mins into the match, Dalkeith contrived to lose their shape and gifted the home side possession and territory in this game and made life very hard for themselves, with the Penicuik forwards particularly adept at controlling the ball. As ugly victories go this was a real Quasimodo!

Next week, it’s back to league action, with Hawick Quins at Dalkeith, 3.00pm KO.