Dunbar were missing several players for this Edinburgh Shield match at Hallhill. Numbers were so short that Dunbar had to concede the match with only 12 players at kick off. Biggar kindly gave us two guys who we fielded on the wings.
After only 3 minutes a good forward surge saw the visitors take the lead. Their forwards driving over from close range to take the lead. Dunbar then had numbers increased to fifteen when Sean Bisset took to the field. Dunbar immediately started to turn things around with their forwards pressing hard which saw prop forward Mitchell go in at the corner to level the scores. Play was even but Biggar were giving away too many penalties and eventually the referee had no option but to yellow card one of their players. Dunbar came back strongly and scored again when Ricky Prentice dived over from close range to score on 18 minutes. Charlton added the conversion to take a 12-7 lead. Both teams attempted to play rugby but defences were on top. With the half time whistle approaching Biggar hit against the run of play to score out wide. The conversion was missed and the half came to a close.
HALF TIME
DUNBAR 12 BIGGAR 10
The next score was crucial for both teams and it was the visitors who hit home after 43 minutes. The conversion was added and the visitors were 17-12 to the good. This was followed a couple of minutes later when slack defending let the Biggar winger through to score with ease. The conversion was added and Biggar were now 24-12 ahead.
An altercation at half way saw a Biggar player retaliate and head butt Dunbar centre Ally Brown. The referee missed the original punch but caught the Biggar player red handed and dished out a red card to the player. Biggar completed the scoring on 58 minutes when again poor defence saw their winger streak through defence to score.
Dunbar had several chances to score out wide but the visitors defence stood solid.
There is no doubt a full strength Dunbar team could have done well against Biggar. The season is at an end for the Dunbar boys which has seen them lose only 3 times all season 2 of which have been in the last 2 matches.
The Dunbar lads will be hoping that their influential number 8 Karl Main gets a start for the National u17 team next week against England at Melrose.