Peebles 49

Whitecraigs 14

Allan Beveridge at The Gytes

ANOTHER bonus point win which takes Peebles up to third in the league, just behind Kelso and this week's opponents Cartha Queens Park.

On an overcast but dry afternoon Peebles, playing towards the town end kicked off in a game they had to win to keep their momentum going and to keep their record at The Gytes in tact.

Greg Raeburn uncharacteristically missed an early penalty but the stand off was to more that redeem himself with a very good 100 per cent kicking display for the rest of the game.

Raeburn added the conversion points to his own try in the ninth minute after Peebles won a penalty and kicked to the corner.

After winning the lineout they enjoyed had several drives before Ryan McConnell appeared to have touched the ball down against the bottom of the post protectors.

But the referee disagreed and McConnell recycled for Donald Anderson to feed Raeburn, who stepped inside the opposition to score.

Play was pretty quiet until half way through the first period when Martin Cruikshank scored the first of his hat trick of tries.

The full back latched onto and inside pass from Callum Anderson and outpaced the opposition to score.

Raeburn converted to make it 14-0.

Before half time Peebles added another two tries - the first came from a great driving maul for Stevie Hamilton to touch down, and the second arrived two minutes into injury time through right winger James May.

Raeburn converted both for a comfortable 28-0 half time lead.

Right on the restart Peebles thought they had gone further ahead when Scott Stoddart was clear only to be recalled for a forward pass.

This helped the cause of the city men who enjoyed some pressure of their own.

There was stout Peebles defence but ultimately Whitecraigs were able to keep possession and drive over for their opening try for captain and prop Ian Laidlaw.

Stevie Gillies added the conversion.

Whitecraigs continued to pressurise the Peebles line, but again the defence was good.

Substitute Dalton Hall, who was playing only his second game for well over a year, immediately made his presence felt when he came on after 50 minutes.

He put in a great tackle on the city full back and was very quickly onto his feet to win the ball and set up a ruck.

Peebles team by this time were running the ball when ever possible.

On the hour May scored his second when he was on hand to receive a pass from hooker Ryan McConnell to sprint in for the touch down.

Raeburn stretched the lead to 35-7.

Martin Cruikshank then got the crowd on its feet.

Whitecraigs stand off Ally Stevenson put in a long kick into the Peebles 22. Cruikshank ran back, picked up and, with two beautiful sidesteps reminiscent of Phil Bennet when 'THAT TRY' try was scored against the All Blacks, dodged the visitors attackers to make 20 metres before passing to May.

Peebles were awarded a penalty when the tackler failed to release May.

From the penalty Peebles kicked to the corner and the Gytes faithful were expecting a catch and drive from the lineout but, all went wrong. Whitecraigs won the ball and with some very good handling, their backs took play from their own line into Peebles territory before right winger Sam Adair took the scoring pass and ran in under the posts.

Before the referee blew the final whistle, about five minutes early, Cruikshank added two more tries after good handling by the Peebles backs.

Both were converted by Raeburn.

Tomorrow sees the Peebles men on the road to Glasgow again to face leaders Cartha Queens Park.

The city team did have Peebles watched last week so they do take their top of the table status seriously.

Hopefully Peebles can avenge last season's cup defeat and come away from Glasgow with the points.

There will be a few spare seats on the bus for any supporters wanting to travel.