Peebles 27

Glasgow Accies 12

Allan Beveridge at The Gytes

ON paper this was always going to be a tricky opener against last season's Division 3 champions.

And so it proved with the home team being tested in all departments.

Despite the delayed kick off due to Accies players being held up in traffic, Peebles settled down quickly with a fourth minute penalty from Greg Raeburn.

However it soon became apparent that Glasgow's pack was not just bigger but a lot heavier than their hosts and they caused plenty disruption in the early scrums.

But the Peebles front row of Napier, Stewart and Menzies adjusted well to deal with the weight disadvantage.

Peebles' defence was tested during a good spell of ball retention by Accies.

And it took a lengthy clearance kick by Raeburn to eventually snuff out the danger.

Callum Anderson went within a foot or two of the visitors' line in the 10th minute, and Jamie Menzies' pick-up and drive went even closer.

Peebles were rewarded with a penalty, which they opted to scrum.

And the gamble paid off with Donald Anderson and Raeburn linking well to send Scott Stoddart over for the try in the corner.

Despite some swift handling by the visitors Peebles held their line well.

There was one moment of anxiety for the home crowd, though, when the visitors centre darted up the left-hand line but prop Willy Napier backtracked to make his tackle.

Peebles should have extended their lead approaching the half hour after Ross Brown took a clean catch to set up a powerful drive, but the visitors managed to halt progress just before the line.

From the recycled ball Accies' hooker Tadh Power was yellow carded for a reckless challenge as Peebles probed beneath the posts.

Again the home team opted to take the scrum instead of the simple three points, and this time the move didn't pay off as the ball was dropped while being fed along the line.

The Pees made amends some five minutes later as Willy Brown took a clean lineout catch for the driving maul to go over the line for the try. Napier emerged with the ball in hand.

Raeburn made it 15-0 for the hosts.

The stand-off, uncharacteristically, missed a simple penalty just before the interval.

Some dogged defending by the visitors prevented Peebles extending their lead during the early exchanges of the second half.

But only a tremendous David Wills tackle prevented Accies scoring on 53 minutes at the other end.

The visitors did finally get on the scoreboard when a powerful driving maul led to Greg Valentine touching down.

Lowry's conversion made it 15-7.

Peebles responded and opened the gap once more with a well-taken try from Murray Brown on 70 minutes.

Stoddart raced over for his second of the game just five minutes later to secure the bonus point.

Raeburn's conversion took the home tally out to 27.

Accies managed to score a try in the final minute through Erland Ogg.

This weekend Peebles travel Lasswade looking to maintain their winning start to the campaign.