This late season local derby had much less riding on it than in recent years, with the teams at polar ends of the league and their placings for the forthcoming league split already fairly settled. However, there is always local pride to battle for when these teams meet!

The opening quarter was a fairly dire affair, with Penicuik’s very limited game plan successful in stifling any attempts by the visitors to open up the match, not helped by a miss-firing Dalkeith line out and messy scrums. However, Davidson was unlucky not to get more out of a blind side break as his support was slow to provide assistance, allowing the Penicuik defence to ultimately clear their lines.

Dalkeith were clearly keen to bring pace into the game as often as possible and when the ball is spun out wide to Simpson, he makes good ground before Penicuik give up penalty in a kickable position during their scrambling defence. Clugston converts for a 0-3 lead.

Unfortunately, the fare on offer shows no signs of improving, especially as the referee seems happy to ignore some unsavoury footwork from the home side and is unwilling to apply the modern laws of the game, particularly around the tackle area, with the home defence happy to wrestle for the ball on the ground in order to stifle Dalkeith’s quick tempo game. The tactics certainly pay off as several Dalkeith attacks are thwarted until another kickable penalty is awarded 25m out. Again Clugston converts and brings the score to 0-6.

The home sides tactics (based around England of the 1970s?) is offering little in attack and a fairly innocuous foray into the Dalkeith half is well handled by the visitors defence and the referee then clearly signals for a Dalkeith penalty as Penicuik come offside. However the ball is then spilled by Dalkeith and recovered by Penicuik’s Fijian stand-off for a run in near the posts, leaving the Dalkeith team mystified as to what happened to their penalty. Penicuik convert for a 7-6 lead.

Dalkeith seem spurred on by this slight and make good ground into the Penicuik half before the home side are pinged for off-side again and Clugston regains the lead for the visitors at 7-9.

Knowing that the home side are particularly adept at the pick and drive game, Dalkeith should have made it a priority to keep Penicuik out of their 22, but failed to do so immediately at the beginning of the second half, the visitors guilty of giving up easy possession to the home side by playing too much rugby in their own half. The home side’s impressive picking and driving game then proves extremely difficult to stop as they slowly march towards the visitors line and ultimately over for the try and a 12-9 lead.

Dalkeith still look far the most dangerous team with ball in hand and despite the glutinous surface, make good ground again into the Penicuik half, with the scrambled home defence again giving up a penalty in a kickable position rather than risk the try. Clugston converts for 12-12.

Although continuing to ask significant questions of the home defence through their enterprising play, the visitors continue to be frustrated by the official’s interpretation of the contact area, which is stifling any attempt at dynamic tactics.

The visitors then go to sleep and are guilty of failing to defend an another innocuous Penicuik attack near half way line. As the home team go quickly down the blind-side, the back row is slow to react meaning that Swanson is pulled in too early, allowing the home winger space on the outside and easy run in to the corner, 17-12.

Dalkeith soon make amends though and march upfield helped by another home penalty, before a couple of phases suck in the home defence, quick ball is then spun wide allowing Swanson to make amends with a well taken score, Clugston converts for a 17-19 Dalkeith lead.

The home side restart and after Dalkeith are again guilty of poor tactics in gifting possession to the home forwards in their 22, only concerted Dalkeith defence keeps out another pick and drive fest near the visitor’s line.

This effort seems to have the Penicuik forwards visibly tiring though and Dalkeith take the opportunity to pile on the pressure by spinning things wide and bringing their back division into the game. A further foray into the home 22 wins another kickable penalty and Clugston extends the visitors lead to 17-22.

Dalkeith are looking much the fresher outfit now and a further foray into the Penicuik half is well supported by Hamilton to secure possession on the touchline and then Clugston releases the evergreen Smith, who’s angle of attack catches the home backs flat footed and he sprints in for another score. Clugston converts to bring things to 17-29.

Penicuik pile on the pressure in the final 5 mins in an attempt to get at least  a bonus point from the game, but Dalkeith hold out for the win.

A hard fought match that at times resembled something from several decades ago, but Dalkeith will be happy with three straight victories over the near neighbours in the current season.