Peebles eased to the top of the table, thanks to shock defeats to Howe of Fife, and Musselburgh on Saturday. However the season has now reached the mid season break, and ideally Pees would have liked to keep the momentum of their recent found form going. Friday will see Border League rugby return. We can but only hope that before the leagues re starts no players receive any injuries.

It was an icy cold Neilson Park on Saturday, with a bitingly cold wind. Pees started with Rory Milne at prop and Paul Stewart on the bench. Kenny Clyde and Graham Hogarth both also stated in the second row.

Within 2 minutes of the kick off Pees showed their intent when Ruaridh Clinch nipped in for a five nil lead. Raeburn missed the conversion. Rory Milne, Ryan McConnell and Andrew Brown were proving a force to be reckoned with in the scrum, and Haddington struggled against our front three all all day. Greg Raeburn slotted over a penalty to give Peebles an 8 nil lead.

Then from some Peebles enterprising play Hemara took the ball to ground, Pees got a scrum and Donald fed Cruickshanks who passed the ball out to Connor Blyth who sailed over to give Peebles a 13 nil lead. Greg missed the conversion. Haddington fought back and scored in the left corner from a ruck . The conversion was missed to make it 5-13. Hemara hit back with a fine try which Raeburn converted to give Peebles a 20-5 lead. Kenny Clyde was outstanding in the loose. Pees held the score till half time

As the match resumed young Clinch was replaced by Darren Kerr on the wing. Pees then in attack threw a loose pass, which was intercepted by the alert Haddington’s Chalmers who zipped over for a fabulous try. The conversion hauled the score back to 12-20. Bubsy Stewart and Matty Carryer replaced Graham Hogarth and Rory Milne who were having fine games. Pees then set up a fine series of rucks, resulting in Donald who was having a great game at scrum half, feeding Matty who passed out to big Kenny Clyde who slid over. This gave Peebles a 25-12 lead. Greg missed the conversion, before retiring injured. This meant David Wills coming into scrum half and Donald Anderson Jack of All Trades going to Stand Off. Warren Kearney was commanding in the Pees lineout.

Pees then zipped over for another try when Haddington tried a cheeky quick throw in which was intercepted by Willsie to release either Dalton Hall or James Hemara. It happened so fast, no one could quite make out who scored. Haddington’s miserly lack of a tannoy and announcer did not help matters! Donald missed the conversion, but pees were 12-30 to the good. Connor Blyth then cheekily pinched some Haddington ball and ran through for another Peebles score. Andersons conversion now gave Pees a commanding 37-12 lead.

Cal Scott then had the last say after Kenny Clyde took on ball and went to ground. Scotts try was converted by Donald to leave the final score as 12-44. A fine work out for the Pees, which leaves them as league leaders. Peter sure has got it Wright. Roll on December, when the league re starts. Meantime we shall be left to enjoy some local derbies in the Border league. Mon The Pees.