Dalkeith are still unbeaten in league and cup, despite last week’s scare at Penicuik and welcomed Hawick Harlequins to Kings Park for this East League 2 fixture.

Harlequins guddled the opening kick-off and Dalkeith pounced on the loose ball, taking the opportunity to drive hard towards the visitors line. However, after a couple of phases, the ball is lost in the tackle just a yard out and Dalkeith are subsequently penalised for off-side, allowing Quins to clear their lines.

From the start both teams seem keen to throw the ball around and Hawick are unlucky to lose possession on a good move into the home half, but Dalkeith capitalise and move quickly down field, catching the visitors offside in the process. Clugston goes for the posts, but his kick is marginally left and the score remains 0-0.

From the 22-restart, Dalkeith control possession and spin it wide, Hamilton bursts into the line before chipping ahead, unfortunately a knock-on in the attempt to gather halts further progress and Hawick again manage to clear their lines. Dalkeith keep up the pressure though and after a couple of phases from the forwards, Thomson jinks through the visitors defence, before offloading to Clugston who goes in at the corner. Clugston follows this with a great conversion from the touchline to make things 7-0.

Dalkeith secure the re-start and a couple of phases later are again in the Harlequins half, before a knock-on gifts scrum possession to the visitors. However, despite the front row missing Halliday this week, Scott Rae is proving an able deputy and the home eight drive the visitors off the ball, securing a penalty in the 22 for their good work, Clugston converts to make things 10-0.

The restart is taken on again by Dalkeith in similar vein and the visitors are struggling to contain the home side’s pace and open-field handling and this momentum gains Dalkeith an attacking scrum well inside the visitors 22. After a good strike, Walker picks up at the base and darts blind, catching the home defence completely flat-footed and he is over for a try in the corner. Clugston is wide with the conversion, but Dalkeith now lead 15-0 after 20mins.

Hawick at this point are struggling to get into the game, with Dalkeith’s pressure defence ensuring hurried clearances when the home side does secure possession. Dalkeith again surge into the visitors half and only an unfortunate knock-on halts Dario Rae, from adding another certain try. However, Dalkeith won’t allow Quins to far from their 22 and again run ball straight back at them, with Swanson making great ground before off-loading to Reid for a third try and 20-0 lead.

Again the home side control the kick-off and take the ball downfield, with Hawick then infringing at the breakdown to give Clugston a chance to move the ball further upfield. From the penalty line-out, Dario Rae makes a great burst before offloading to Swanson, who makes great yards before the supporting Clugston takes the final pass and scores another in the corner. The conversion from wide out is short, but Dalkeith take a 25-0 lead into the half.

The home side have developed a bad habit of switching-off at the start of the second half this season, particularly when holding a big lead, and again seemed to take their foot off the gas as Quins piled on the pressure in the third quarter. The home side also appeared to irk the referee at this juncture, as they then were on the end of a catalogue of penalties, particularly in the tackle area, which allowed the visitors to maintain good field position.

However, a solid defensive effort seemed to have allowed Dalkeith to clear their lines, but again the referee made an impact, with some further curious decisions allowing Harlequins to gain a further foothold in the home 22. The good spell of Quins pressure finally told and after a penalty line, the visitors forwards drove over for the score, bringing things to 25-7.

This seemed to wake Dalkeith from their slumbers and from the re-start the home backs pressured the Quins defence into a sliced clearance, giving good field position and an opportunity to get back into to their dynamic attacking play. When Quins are penalised again on the visitors 5m line, Dalkeith attack through the forwards and after a couple of phases Haining goes over for the try. Clugston misses the conversion, but Dalkeith are looking comfortable at 30-7.

Quins are not out of things though and with the official still choosing to see much at fault with Dalkeith’s play, the visitors keep plugging away in the Dalkeith 22, without actually threatening the try line.

Time ticks down without any further score and Dalkeith hold on for the win and the bonus point to maintain their position at top of the league. Next week it is more Borders opposition with an away fixture at Gala YM, 3.00pm KO.