Rugby: win for PL keeps pressure on

By GARY HEATLY
Published on 28/01/2013 12:15

Preston LODGE battled back in the second half on Saturday to defeat Portobello and keep up the pressure on RBS East One leaders Livingston.

With Livingston’s match at home to Berwick postponed due to the weather Preston Lodge knew that a victory over Porty would take them over the 50 point mark and keep their title challenge alive.

It was not going to plan in the first 40 minutes though as the visitors to East Lothian built up a 13-0 advantage.

After the interval PL managed to turn things around, tries from Graeme Patterson and Raymond Mackie being added to by two conversions by the former as they sneaked home 14-13.

It was PL’s first league match since the middle of December when they were defeated by RHC Cougars.

Elsewhere in East One at the weekend RHC Cougars battled to a 12-8 win at North Berwick and stayed in third, 14 points clear of Portobello in fourth.

All other matches were off in the division.

In RBS East Two Trinity Accies caused a shock to defeat leaders Hawick Linden 18-10 at Bangholm. And Edinburgh Northern came from 12-10 down at the interval to win 39-12 against Ross High.

Try doubles came from Jeff Goncet and Richard Logg to lead the comeback victory while John Letham and James Dow also went over and Andrew Spiller kicked two conversions.

In RBS East Three only one match survived the weather with Queensferry being surprisingly defeated by bottom club Walkerburn 32-30.