Dunbar 17 Portobello 29

DUNBAR remain rooted to the foot of the East 1 table after a 10th defeat in a row on Saturday.

Home lock Stuart Crichton was sent off in the second half for a second yellow card offence just as Dunbar had got back into the match.

Portobello wrapped up a bonus point inside the first half but Dunbar responded well after the break before the red card and a late try ended their chances of a first league win this term.

Mark Coull’s side threatened first thanks to the strong running of Ewan Patrizio but turned down a kick at the posts early on.

And they paid the price when Portobello went up the other end of the pitch and crossed for the game’s opening try with just five minutes on the clock.

Just three minutes later, the home side lost Crichton following his first yellow card and the hosts took full advantage, crossing for their second try.

Home danger man Patrizio crashed over for Dunbar to bring them back into contention on 22 minutes, with Ross Charlton’s conversion cutting the deficit to 7-14.

Portobello’s two-score advantage was restored shortly after with their third try and a fourth followed before the interval as they wrapped up a bonus point inside the first half.

Charlton kicked a penalty but the home side were 14 points adrift at the break.

Dunbar introduced Keith Courtney from the bench at the break and he made an immediate impact to their forward effort in his first outing for more than a year.

Indeed, Courtney crashed over early in the half but the referee judged he had knocked on and denied the try.

Coull’s side did get back into the game with the try of the match, scored by Sandy Thomson.

His mazy run carved through the Porty defence before he touched down, Charlton converting for 17-24, and Dunbar were only down by one score.

Then came Crichton’s red card – and a last-minute try for the Capital side which denied Dunbar even a losing bonus point.

They are without a game on Saturday but welcome second-bottom Corstorphine Cougars to Hallhill next Saturday (November 18).

Dunbar: S Thomson, J Peebles, G Peebles, J Peters, G Crawford; R Charlton, T Salkeld; A Wightman, K Donnellan, S Rodgers, S Crichton, D Philip, J Lister, G Patrizio, E Patrizio.