The start went astray with Kirkcaldy slotting an easy penalty after just 45 secs, with a lineout drive taken down by Dundee just inside the 15m line, and about 35m out 0-3. Then less than 5mins on the clock, try for Kirkcaldy , Lineout mistake on our own 10m line, ball played well by the opposition forwards, score in the right hand corner 0-8 all Kirkcaldy.

07:25 great pressure from Dundee gives us a scrum midfield on the Kirkcaldy 10m line, penalty from the scrum, great kick to touch by Duncan Campbell. Our lineout on the left hand side 10m out, excellent catch at 2 by Seamus Gilmartin, hard maul right to the line, advantage from the ruck just inside the 15m line, 2m out Tymon Kopacz hands on, drives through - try! (5-8, missed conv).

So 25 mins in we have scrum dominance but some early pushes allows Kirkcaldy away with a possible yellow card. Most of the play from 25mins is all Dundee, but some basic errors in handling, decision making and in and around the ruck allows the visitors back in. Some excellent defence on our line prevents a score and from the clearance kick they score a try on 41mins, a missed tackle leads to a converted try making it 5-15 at HT.

Poor start from the kick off by Kirkcaldy gives us the ball, scrum halfway but a penalty against us and back chat gives them the ball and field position. Kick to the corner gives them an attacking lineout - they collect, drive, ruck, pick and go score and converted (5-22).

Heads down but not out!

Leaders across the park start to step up, great carries by James Mair, Malachy Keough, Ewen MacDonald, Tymon Kopacz and replacement Scrum Half Callum Reddick puts pressure on Kirkcaldy. Just outside their 22m fast front foot ball from the left hand side gives us momentum and a switch in the center by Duncan Campbell and Ollie Stoops, ball out the back of hand by Duncan, Ollie under the posts and converted. (12-22 @ 67mins).

It’s all Dundee!

We get another penalty, a yellow card for Kirkcaldy and we have a lineout on their 15m right hand side. Great take by Malachy, drives into the Kirkcaldy midfield, space on either side ball back towards touch, skipper James gets a pop pass hits a gap, big leg drive score! (17-22)

10mins left! Kirkcaldy clear their lines twice, we keep hitting back into midfield, another penalty, we are at the 5m - secure ball from lineout, forwards carry, carry, carry. Turnover and at 82mins Kirkcaldy clear it and take the win 17-22.

That was a hard loss to take, we had chances that we didn’t convert, they had chances and did. At key moments in the game they moved the scoreboard and their goal line defence won the game, deservedly so.

More lads return this week for the trip north to Gordonians on Saturday- hopefully we can reduce the errors and generate the same pressure and score a few more.

- 1XV Team Manager Willie Stoops