The home side welcomed Moray House RFC to Kings Park for this league fixture, and were hoping to maintain their unbeaten record this season, although fixtures between the teams have been close affairs over recent years. With Thomson about to head of to the land of the long white cloud and Clugston and Walker unavailable, Reid moved from flanker to his old berth of centre and Ramsay came in at scrum half.

An early penalty for Dalkeith gave good field position and Smith then looked to have released Hamilton through the gap and on to a potential score, but the pass was deemed forward and House clear their lines after the scrum. However, Dalkeith win the line out and after sucking in the House forwards, Reid bursts through two tackles before offloading to Swanson for the first score, 5-0.

Dalkeith secure the restart and some good phased play again has them in the 22 and driving towards the line, quick ball to the backs looks certain to bring another score, but Montgomery takes it one phase too far and is pinged for holding on, allowing House to clear. Dalkeith are beginning to control possession though and after stealing House scrum ball, Davidson goes on the burst before Swanson takes the ball on at pace before passing to Simpson for the run in, 12-0 with Smith’s conversion.

Virtually from the restart House get themselves on the board as a fortunate bounce of the ball flat-foots the defence allowing an unopposed run in and things are suddenly a lot closer at 12-7.

Spurred on by this reverse Dalkeith visibly tighten up play and drive themselves back into the House half, with quick ruck ball to Halliday drawing in the defence before Duke takes the pop and straightens the attack towards the posts, Halliday is again on hand as Duke is halted and the prop drags three defenders over the line with him in the act of scoring, 19-7.

The next ten minutes is fairly scrappy stuff as both sides struggle with the greasy ball and more than once the home attack appears to be on the verge of a breakthrough until the final pass hits the deck and House clear their lines.

However, Dalkeith are playing with some adventure and a long kick ahead by House is run from the home 22, with first Reid and Swanson making good ground back to the half and then Halliday and Duke take on the defence before Clark bursts up the outside and over for the score, 24-7 at the half.

The Dalkeith forwards are controlling things up front and another good line out take is then mauled into the visitors 22, where an infringement gives Dalkeith a penalty. The ball is taken on and held short, but Duke is on hand again to create the score under the posts, 31-7.

Dalkeith gather the restart and with growing confidence run the ball from the 22, Hamilton taking the ball at pace and after dummying two defenders, the stand-off races the length of the field for another score, 38-7

House are down to 14 men after an injury to their flanker and Dalkeith are using the ball well to create attacking space and to make best use of the extra man. However, the visitors are becoming increasingly desperate in their attempts to halt Dalkeith’s progress and several high tackles and other incidents are given a lenient look by the referee.

More good pressure from Dalkeith and when a clearance from the House 22 is taken on by Simpson, he then offloads to the supporting Reid on the burst, before Hay takes the pass and drives on and over under the posts, 45-7. At this point Moray House lose a prop to injury and the game goes to uncontested scrums.

The visitors are struggling to control any sort of possession at this point and after Davidson rips the ball from a House Maul, he drives on before the ball is then recycled quickly and good hands from the backs find Clark on the wing who outstrips the defence and goes into the corner, 50-7.

Moray House are now pinned in their half and the last 15 mins is going to be a matter of how many for Dalkeith. Another great drive by the forwards has the maul advancing some 20m before it is stopped illegally, but the referee plays advantage and Reid is on hand to rip the ball and drive over for another converted score, 57-7.

Further tries then followed for Clark, Smith, Reid and Bensley as the lack of numbers ultimately tell on the Moray House defence, with Dalkeith running out winners by 83-7. A fine win by Dalkeith, enhanced somewhat by the visitors losing men to injury, but it maintains Dalkeith’s unbeaten record and they retake leadership of the league after Dunbar drop a bonus point at Hawick.  Next week it is an away fixture at Earlston, 2.00pm KO.