Peebles 5
Whitecraigs 27
PREMIER C
STRUGGLING Peebles lost their national rugby status last weekend with a defeat at home to Whitecraigs and will be playing regional rugby next season in the new Championship League.
Whitecraigs, it can be said from the offset, looked a decent and very determined team, who were quick at the breakdown and showed some pretty neat handling skills all round.
The visitors triggered the scoring from the back of the scrum – Stuart Henderson sliding over the whitewash and Ally Stevenson converting – to take an early lead.
Stuart Pollock then scored just before half-time, with the score 12-0 to Craigs.
The onslaught continued after the restart with Ryan Moffat scoring a try and then slotting a penalty. Craigs then pressed for the vital bonus point and it was Moffat who created the try for giant centre Phil Nicol.
Moffat duly converted to take the score to 27-0.
In the dying seconds, Peebles were rewarded for some gallant defending and courage in the face of adversity with a brilliant move that saw Kenny Clyde laying off a superb pass for David Anderson to sneak in at the corner.
Peebles: G. Raeburn; C. Blyth, D. Clancy, T. Walsh, N. Hogarth; N. Warnock, Donald Anderson; A. Clark, M. Carryer, T. Mapuilesua, A. Brown, K. Clyde, R. McConnell, D. Hall, G. Hogarth. Subs: A. Warnock, S. Raeburn, D. Moore, David Anderson.