There were cheers from all within the Biggar camp although the last five minutes of what was virtually a 48 minute half had everyone on the edge of their seats as Jed tore at Biggar with predictable Border grit. That Biggar held their line and managed to not concede a penalty was crucial.

Jed only required three points and the damage done by a similar award in Biggar’s last outing when Marr grabbed a win with the last kick of the game was still too fresh in the mind.

The win means that Biggar escape the second relegation spot but with Jed hosting bottom of the table Hill Jills this Saturday while Biggar face a trip to unbeaten league leaders Selkirk positions may well be swapped again.

Biggar were pretty much at full strength for the Jed game, Donald Voas back at prop after rib damage sustained during the Marr game. Andrew Watt a notable absentee after twisting his knee in training but Graeme Hunter made a welcome comeback after a similar injury sustained against Stewart Melville some 6 weeks ago. Lewis McLachlan is back off-shore but with new recruit Michal Morisz making his debut at lock Jamie Orr dropped to the back row.

In calm, mild conditions Biggar opened well and perhaps should have taken an early lead from a penalty after just three minutes but Hunter was just off target with his kick.

A Craig Simmons burst in the midfield followed with the big No8 tearing through the Jed defence but his off-load was knocked. Just seconds later a pass from Andrew King was adjudged to have gone forward and then Mark Bertram, playing somehow after badly twisting his ankle at Glasgow training on Monday, scooped up a loose ball to make excellent ground, Craig Bachurzewski held up just short. The same player then made a terrific burst up the stand side, Bertram in support.

Against GHA Bachurzewski had opted to pass but this time he thumped ever closer, the eventual off-load knocked on with just metres to go. It was all Biggar therefore but with 10 minutes gone the side had nothing to show for their dominance.

With 16 minutes gone and with the hosts having made their first sortie into the Biggar 22 Biggar first of all cleared the danger before engineering a decent attacking position in the Jed half.

Following a series of some really well controlled pick and goes the ball was picked up by Calum Taylor and without waiting for support the DO drove for the line to score a welcome try. Hunter added the conversion and Biggar took a well-deserved 7-0 lead.

A handful of minutes later and Biggar capitalised on a couple of penalties to take play back into the Jed 22 where Hunter converted well for 10-0. With their pack in the ascendancy it looked as though this might be Biggar’s day.

Under pressure for the first time after the restart Biggar were then pushed back after a penalty which kick to the corner. A simple line drive saw Jed make their presence felt and Grieve crashed over for a try which was unconverted.

Voas was then forced off with a recurrence of his rib problems, Calvin Henderson galloping on to take his place. A simple tap and go saw Simmons make good ground but as Jed were not back the requisite 10 metres Hunter took the chance to extend the Biggar lead once again. With half time some 10 minutes away another score would have been the ideal way to round the half off.

Somehow however it was Jed and not Biggar who scored. Having initially gained a great attacking position midway in the Jed half via some really positive and patient driving play Biggar conceded a soft free kick.

Jed tapped quickly and caught the Biggar defence at sixes and sevens, a simple and direct handling movement seeing play swept towards the Biggar line where a textbook two on one saw Jed’s Harkness score under the posts. The conversion from Ritchie put the hosts right back into the mix and this after a decent Biggar effort which had restricted the Border side to probably only two chances – both of which they took with ease.

Worse was to follow however as Scott Swankie was deemed the culprit after an off-the-ball incident saw what was only a stramash with lots of pushing and shoving from a host of players. Now just one point ahead and down to 14 men the balance of the game could have swung decisively to Jed.

Undeterred Biggar ended the half in attack although a knock on saw another opportunity missed.

With the referee having elected to change his top to avoid any possible clash Jed should have really taken the lead a Taylor knock on ceding possession at the first lineout.

A breenge through the first line of Biggar defence saw Jed away on a surge which should have ended with a try but somehow the pass was missed, the ever-present Orr scooping the ball up before kicking well to clear the danger.

This was a major let off for Biggar and perhaps the only chance Jed failed to take all afternoon. The significance of this miss cannot be underestimated and in what was to become a big 10 point swing Hunter took full advantage of the next penalty to kick for 16-12.

Biggar then lost concentration and in a series of poor clearances which only helped maintain the Jed pressure Biggar were for the first time really under the cosh for a sustained period.

A forward pass seemed to have relieved the pressure as the Biggar scrum was now controlling things but strangely a penalty advantage was ignored and Biggar opted to run and then kick clear. This was not a convincing effort however and there was no advantage whatsoever so the expectation was that play would be brought back.

Not so and just as had been the case in the first half Jed took full advantage to run ball back at pace, Combe benefiting from a neat chip to the corner to win the race to the ball. Ritchie converted with a great kick from wide out to put the Border side ahead for the first time at 19-16.

There was still some 25 minutes remaining however so Biggar had time. Douglas Notman and Alan Warnock were introduced for Taylor and McKenzie, and Pearce, the former back, on almost immediately as Morisz was forced off with a shoulder injury. Another dominant scrum was then lost as the referee deemed Biggar to have lost control on the wheel.

A touchline discussion took place regarding the quality of both sides kicking, ball cleared to touch twice on the full during this confab! On this occasion the upshot was that Biggar were able to exert a little more pressure on the Jed line.

A kick and chase saw Jed forced into touch close to their five metre line before conceding a penalty. King took control and, having tapped, the big centre crashed over for what was a real opportunist score. Hunter missed the conversion and with just two points in the game at 21-19 a knock on at the restart gave Jed the possession they craved.

A crucial Ritchie penalty from the follow up meant that Jed had their noses back in front with some10 minutes remaining of normal time.

Things were now becoming evermore tense but Biggar remained focussed and although a try would have been the ideal method of regaining the lead – and a run by Bertram followed up by Henderson and Warnock threatened – a penalty was enough, Hunter keeping his calm to kick for a 24-22 win.This then brought the match to its climax but with the best part of nine minutes being added on Biggar had to wait, and wait as Jed tried and tried.