HILLFOOTS RFC were defeated by Dunfermline RFC in their first home game of the season at the weekend.

Expected to be a stern test at Tilly Park against a team with designs on playing at a higher level, the visitors came up against a very determined home side and had to dig deep for their victory.

The first 15 minutes belonged to the Tilly men who, playing into the wind but down the slope, camped themselves on Dunfermline's line and pushed their defence extremely hard. Having pushed Caithness around the field last weekend, the Hillfoots scrum was dominant once again with rookie props Ian Lightley and Kev Aitken excelling in unfamiliar positions.

Hard running by the home forwards and intelligent play from John McMurdo and Fraser Christie at 9 and 10 eventually led to number 8 Daryl Lindsay barrelling over for a well-deserved opening five points.

The strong opening from Foots was causing problems for Dunfermline, reflected in a growing penalty count. This led to one of the Fifers' second rows being given 10 minutes in the sin bin for repeated infringements.

Unfortunately Foots couldn't make the advantage count and Lindsay was shown a red card after a moment of red mist and a flurry of fisticuffs.

It was a blow that proved pivotal as Dunfermline slowly found their way back into the game.

Two well-made tries towards the end of the first half for the visitors meant they took a 12-5 advantage into the interval.

That advantage was increased immediately after the break with Dunfermline striking again after some soft tackling allowed their winger to make good ground down the right.

However, the lads regrouped and, led on by strong performances from Ian Anderson and Duncan Arthur in the pack, Foots began clawing their way back. McMurdo dinked over a brace of penalties and, with 20 minutes to go, a converted try would have sneaked the win.

It was not to be. Dunfermline were able to snuff out the Hillfoots attacks and made a good fist of attacking the home try-line in return. With both defences on top, the game came to a close with no further scoring and the visitors won by a score of 17-11.