Kelso 24 Musselburgh 18

MUSSELBURGH head coach Grant Talac was left bemoaning a loss of discipline as his side fell to a second successive National League Division 1 defeat of the season on Saturday.

Talac’s side lost to promoted Kelso at Poynder Park and the Burgh boss told Courier Sport it was a “very disappointing” result.

He said: “We played well and established an 18-10 lead. We then ended up with a couple of players in the sin bin and had to play seven minutes with 13 players, in which Kelso scored two tries.

“We then got held up over their line when back to a full compliment but missed the opportunity and Kelso were then able to see the game out.

“A pretty disappointing outcome in a game we could and should have won in my opinion.”

The home side made a flying start and crossed for the first try to take a 5-0 lead before Burgh hit back. Gareth Pritchard kicked a penalty to cut the deficit to two before Greig Leitch scored. Pritchard converted to put the visitors five points ahead.

Kelso grabbed a second try to level the scores before Cory Vela went over on his Burgh debut, his try ensuring the Honest Toun outfit were ahead at the interval.

Pritchard’s second penalty extended the Burgh lead to eight points shortly after the restart before a third Kelso try made it a one-point game.

And as Burgh looked to seal victory the Borders side scored a fourth try to seal victory, and secure a bonus point.

Talac’s men did register their first points of the season with a losing bonus point – and despite defeat, the Burgh boss was quick to take positives from the game.

He added: “We played a lot better than the week before, which hopefully shall transition into a win against Edinburgh Accies at home on Saturday.”

Accies, coached by ex-Haddington man Derek O’Riordan, are joint top of the table.

Musselburgh: J Coutts, B Hibberd, A Cook, C Veitch, J Doig; G Pritchard, G Leitch; C Slaven, R Gregor, N McNairn, W Fleming, G McKinstry, B Graham, M Fleming, L Hutson.