Kirkcaldy rue lack of talent after Currie loss

Kirkcaldy$@13

KIRKCALDY’S chances of making a mark this season are severely limited by their lack of cut and thrust behind the scrum. Which is a pity since their forwards showed good appetite at Malleny Park and got the better of their hosts for the first 40 minutes.

Twice they struck against the head, and on at least four occasions they plundered Currie’s ball at ruck and maul. Their survival in the top flight would seem to depend on attracting better players, but coach Doug Wyllie admitted : "Recruitment is a problem. There is not enough talent in Fife to support a first division side."

He added, as he reflected on last season’s sensation, Quentin Saff: "We can’t afford the luxury of a Quentin - he wants 30,000 now that he has an agent. So we’ll just have to adjust our game plan to suit."

Currie, by contrast, look set for another top-half finish and were never in danger of losing this game. Aaron Cowie at outside centre, who came north via the county XV of Leicestershire, has been a revelation and his slick handling and powerful running has transformed the side.

Mike Plumb’s early try, set up and converted by Greg Rutherford, set the tone for the home side. The Currie stand-off and Kirkcaldy’s Derek McCombe swapped penalties - the visiting kicker was later to miss four other attempts at goal - before Craig MacDonald narrowed the scores when he barged over following his No8 Jason Syme’s pick and feed.

A further penalty from Rutherford and his conversion of Aaron Cowie’s 39th-minute try stretched Currie into a comfortable half-time lead.

They added two further tries through Kent Rae and a peach from David Officer. Kirkcaldy full-back Stuart Pearson touched down with ten minutes to go, but it could not prevent another defeat in what could be a long season for the Fifers.

Scorers: Currie: Tries: Plumb, Cowie, Rae, Officer. Cons: Rutherford (2). Pens: Rutherford (2). Kirkcaldy: Tries: MacDonald, Pearson. Pens: Pearson.

Currie: D Officer; I Russell, A Cowie, M Plumb, G Moffat; G Rutherford, I Monaghan; E Milligan, L Barrett; C Black, R Hogg, A Adam, G Bell, K Rae, J Shaw. Subs: A Longley for Plumb, 60mins. J Officer for Adam, 63. N Bruce for Barrett, 66. J MacDonald for Rae, 75.

Kirkcaldy: S Pearson; C Milne, C Harvey, D McCombe, A Spencer; M Flemming, R Bethune; M Thomson, S Brown, S Wallace, D Jessiman, C MacDonald, S Hannah, J Syme, S Cain. Subs: R McMinn for Wallace, 75. K Fraser for Hannah, 12-15, 29-50, 57.

Referee: C Muir (Langholm)