Biggar 24

Kelso 19

Al Stewart at Hartree Mill

Whether this result was down to an over-confident Kelso caught napping, a rejuvenated Biggar getting lucky will never be known.

But make no mistake, this was a cracking match and, from a Biggar point of view at least, a cracking result.

Coach Gary Mercer was in Bath watching his son Zach make his Premiership debut against Newcastle.

That game saw the team from the south record a resounding win and while Biggar's was considerably less emphatic it was every bit as important.

Davy Wilson was in charge therefore and he had the happy task of reporting the win to Mercer who will have the video to enjoy.

Biggar enjoyed the lion's share of both possession and territory in the first half, Kelso keeping the scoreboard ticking over as Phil Hume struck three penalties in reply to Biggar's first half try from Stuart Hull.

On a day when superlatives were flying it would be easy to get carried away but this try, involving a 60 second burst of play and seeing the whole team contribute must be one of the best scored by Biggar for a good number of years.

It began with a good lineout take from Jamie Orr and then featured eight excellent phases with ball shipped right then left and finally right again with Douglas Notman feeding Hull for the line.

Richard Peacock struck the conversion sweetly for 7-3.

On the half hour mark Andrew Dunlop was shown a yellow card and with Kelso deep in Biggar's 22 .

They probably should have as Kelso executed a neat blindside move which culminated with their winger crossing the line. The final pass was adjudged forward however and Biggar escaped.

For their part Biggar had two penalty chances of their own, Peacock seeing the first rebound off the upright and the second slip to the left.

Crucially, Dunlop returned after the break with Biggar having kept the visitors out and with the 9-7 score standing.

Biggar needed to get an early score to regain the lead and to exert greater pressure on the Poynder Park side.

Another Peacock penalty slipped wide but Biggar retained their position as Kelso's drop goal restart was partially charged down.

Biggar's line speed in offensive/defence meant that Kelso were forced to act quickly and with tackles coming in low and hard Kelso's ability to 'exit' their 22 was sorely tested.

The Kelso defence faltered and Hull was able to take full advantage to latch onto a loose offload to catch and dive for his second score.

Peacock added the conversion but this five point lead was short lived as Hume kicked a conversion to a try from Jack Chambers who was at the end of a well-controlled line drive from the Kelso pack.

In see-saw fashion however, and with around 10 minutes left, Biggar retook the lead via another Peacock penalty and then increased that lead to 24-16 as winger David Paterson rounded off an excellent move instigated by Reive and carried on by hooker Ewan Stewart.

Eight points ahead meant that Kelso had to score twice as forays to the Biggar line had been infrequent it looked as though Biggar might gain the win. Given the relative ease with which they had scored their second half try from the line drive, a last minute penalty and option of the kick to the corner – with Biggar reduced to 14 again following a yellow card to Orr for a tip tackle - might have provided a second try.

Instead, and mindful of the losing bonus, Hume was called up to kick and he duly slotted the penalty for 24-19.

Cue the final whistle and much celebration.