Rugby: North Berwick deserving of East One title

NORTH BERWICK were celebrating at the weekend after they clinched the Scottish Hydro East One title in style at Recreation Park.

The East Lothian outfit have had a fascinating tussle at the top with Portobello over the last few months, but eventually finished on top after an 87-0 home thumping of Edinburgh Northern.

They are deserved winners of the league given that they have beaten their nearest rivals twice during the season and were named Scottish Hydro Club of the Month on one occasion. The result also had repercussions for Northern who have been relegated after just one year in East One. They return to East Two along with Broughton who bowed out after a 28-19 home loss to Lismore at Wardie.

Penicuik live to fight another day despite a 23-18 home loss to Portobello, while Dunbar saw off Earlston 22-15 to finish third.

In East Two Dalkeith and Gala YM will square up in a title decider this coming weekend after both won on Saturday against Walkerburn and Moray House respectively. Liberton finished bottom after a 40-3 loss to RDVC.

In National One RHC Cougars won away at Edinburgh University 19-18, while in National Two Preston Lodge won 12-11 at Cambuslang to keep up their slim hopes of survival with two matches to play.

Trinity Accies defeated Ross High 32-16 in National Three, but are still in the relegation zone.

And Lasswade are one step from Murrayfield after a 27-19 victory at Ellon in the National Shield last eight.