Dunbar 46 North Berwick 14

DUNBAR produced a big upset as they thrashed North Berwick in an East Lothian derby at Hallhill on Saturday.

Mark Coull’s second-from-bottom home team were the better side throughout in the East 1 clash as second-place North Berwick put in a well below-par performance.

Experienced duo Jamie Peters and John Peebles helped themselves to a brace apiece, while Dunbar had a bonus point wrapped up inside the opening 40 minutes as they scored seven tries in all.

The first came after 15 minutes when a great pass from Daniel Philip put winger Peebles over in the corner for his first try.

It went unconverted, but the same player grabbed his second shortly after to double the hosts’ advantage.

A third Dunbar score followed through Peters, the veteran centre powering through after good work by the pack from a 5m lineout.

Ross Charlton this time added the conversion and Dunbar led 17-0.

Things got even better for Coull’s side as they wrapped up a bonus point when Chris Greco crashed over five minutes before half-time, with Charlton again adding the extras.

North Berwick finally got on the board when the referee awarded them a penalty try and the sides turned round with Dunbar 24-7 ahead.

The hosts started the second half in the same manner they had the first, scoring two tries in quick succession to further extend their lead.

First Kyle Donnellan finished off a team move before Sandy Thomson outsprinted the North Berwick defence to touch down.

Charlton converted both scores, and kicked a penalty to move Dunbar out of sight at 41-7.

The home side then lost Thomas Salkeld to the sin-bin but they were undeterred as Peters crashed over for his second try of the day to seal a big win.

North Berwick did grab a consolation score but they were well off the pace, despite the return of the experienced Ben Inglis following a stint travelling in Australia.

Victory moves Dunbar five points clear of RHC Cougars at the bottom of the table, while North Berwick are 11 points behind leaders Hawick Harlequins.

Coull’s Dunbar side now face third-place Livingston in West Lothian on Saturday hoping to build on their derby success.

For Grant Craig’s North Berwick, meanwhile, they visit unbeaten East 2 outfit Barnton in a BT Edinburgh Shield semi-final.

Dunbar: B Mills, J Peebles, S Thomson, J Peters, G Peebles; R Charlton, T Salkeld; R Wight, K Donnellan, S Rodgers, D Moffat, S Crichton, J Lister, D Philip, G Patrizio.

North Berwick: F Graham, F Thain, C Elms, R Ritchie, C Johnston; L West, N Hammond; G Black, S Lorimer, B Buchanan, C Maclean, M Sanderson, R Spence, J Armstrong, C Lekkas.