Dundee High travelled to Inverleith to meet Stewarts Melville knowing that a win would close the gap on RBS National League pacesetters Boroughmuir and Watsonians.
It was not to be as High crashed 21-18 and collected only a losing bonus which meant Dundee slip to fifth in the table and the added ignominy was that their capital opponents now leap frog them into fourth spot.
There was little in at half-time with Stew Mel ahead by 10-8 thanks to a try from No 8 Jon Hamblin and a conversion and penalty by stand off Mike Hanning to a try and penalty from Andy Dymock.
The match continued to see-saw into the second half, with Alan Whittingham crossing for Stew Mel’s second try and Hanning adding his second penalty but Dundee were in the hunt after Darrell Russell and Alan Brown added tries for the visitors.
Into the closing stages, Hanning slotted his third penalty but with a final opportunity to tie the match, Dundee’s penalty fell agonisingly short.
Neither side dominated but the Stew Mel tactic of keeping the game loose and away from the powerful Dundee pack was in the end successful.
There was little the visitors could do to generate any real momentum and with a Peebles side who collected a try bonus against Hillhead/Jordanhill at the Gytes on Saturday next up at Mayfield, Dundee desperately need a win if they are not going to let their season slip away.