Games in the borders have in the past proved to be banana skins for Dundee High School and for a while it looked as if their RBS National League 28-25 victory over Kelso at Poynder Park on Saturday was going to turn out that way.
Dundee had won 21-12 at Mayfield when the two met earlier in the season, but Kelso went into his one trailing Dundee by five points and they knew that a win would not only cut the gap but could possibly move them up the table.
There was nothing between the sides at the break with Kelso No8 Michael Robertson and flanker Ewan Ford going over for tries, one of which was converted by Murray Hastie who also slotted a penalty.
That scoring was mirrored by Dundee who also claimed two first half tries from Richie McIver and wing Calum Bowie, a conversion and a penalty coming from the boot of full-back Bryce Hosie.
It was nip and tuck into the second half with Kieran Wilkinson grabbing the third Kelso try for Hastie to convert while Andy Dymock got Dundee’s third and Hosie’s kick tied the score at 22-22.
Hastie’s second penalty of the game eased Kelso into a 25-22 lead but they were unable to close the game out and Hosie again banged over a penalty to level the scores before adding the coup de grace with a final penalty six minutes from time to take the points back to Mayfield.
That win keeps Dundee in fourth spot in the RBS National League on 43 points with Boroughmuir still top on 55 points. Watsonians are second on 47 then Stewarts Melville third on 46.
Dundee have two RBS Regional Cup Saturdays coming up before their final league match of 2013 at Mayfield against Watsonians on December 21. It could be a key away win in the promotion play-off chase.
“We should have scored another couple of tries in the first half so we were disappointed we didn’t get the bonus point,” said head coach Colin Robertson.
“However, we scored three cracking tries, probably the three best of our season so far.”
Robertson was also impressed by how his team stayed cool when the match was in the balance, forcing Bryce Hosie’s two late penalties to come out on top.
“Kelso fought well and got us back into a close encounter during the second half, but we showed plenty of character and composure in the closing stages,” he said.
“That character in this squad is going to be crucial to maintaining this winning habit both at home and away.”