North Berwick produced an improved second-half performance to see off local rivals Dunbar for the second time this season, and claim the BT East Regional Shield.

Victory for the hosts at Recreation Park means they are now just one match away from an appearance at the national stadium, with BT Murrayfield awaiting the winners of the last-four clash, against the winners of either the Borders, West or Caledonia regional competitions.

It was the visitors, with Blair Mills back at scrum-half following two nasty cuts to the head in recent matches, and experienced Jamie Peters in the centres, who started the brighter at Recreation Park.

But the home side opened the scoring through a Liam West penalty, and the in-form North Berwick number 10 added a second to open up a 6-0 advantage after quarter of an hour.

The visitors responded, though, and managed to get themselves on the scoreboard as they kicked two penalties through Mills to make it 6-6, and that was how it remained until the interval.

It took just two minutes of the second half for the home side to open up their lead once more, as they drove a lineout inside the Dunbar 22, with hooker Bhrian Buchannan forcing his way over for the first try. West was wide with the conversion, but North Berwick led 11-6.

Thomas’ side started to lift the tempo of the game and were camped in the Dunbar half for the next 10 minutes. Liam West was kicking well from hand, and the North Berwick set-piece was functioning well, which gave a good platform.

In a carbon-copy of the first try, Ben Inglis burrowed his way over from close range after 51 minutes. This time, West was successful with the kick for 18-6.

The Recreation Park club scored a third try with 15 minutes left, as versatile forward Iain Dove went over in the corner to make it 23-6 and put the game out of sight of Callum Low’s Dunbar.

They did respond with several phases of play in the North Berwick half, but were unable to breach the hosts’ solid defence, and North Berwick sealed the win with their fourth try late on. After a good scrum, Grant Spence ran into midfield, before Grant Craig cut a superb line, hurdling a would-be tackler to go over.

Dunbar attacked relentlessly late on and grabbed a consolation try when Mills chipped through and beat the covering defenders, but North Berwick were able to celebrate East Regional Shield victory.

The clubs now return to league action tomorrow (Saturday), as North Berwick take on in-form Berwick at Recreation Park, while Dunbar travel to Langholm.

North Berwick: G Spence, G Fairgrieve, K Hamilton, A Elder, M West; L West, H Grierson; R Patterson, B Buchanan, A Gallacher, A Macnair, M Sanderson, I Dove, B Inglis, J Dove.

Dunbar: R Charlton, S Moreton, S Thomson, J Peters, A Penrose; Kieran Donnellan, B Mills; A Wightman, C Baikie, R Gallacher, C McLellan, S Crichton, K Courtney, Kyle Donnellan, G Patrizio.