Leith 10 North Berwick 31

North Berwick maintained their unbeaten league campaign with a bonus-point win over Leith to start 2023 with a bang.

In a flowing performance that delivered five tries, they remain clear at the top of Tennent’s East Region League Division One with 10 wins from 10.

The pattern of the match was set within the first five minutes when the North Berwick defence turned over Leith ball and, after a series of well-structured plays, the pack provided the platform for a break on the blindside.

Scrum-half Telfer broke to feed centre McKay, who beat the first defender, stepped inside and created space with a well-timed pass for the supporting second-row Jake Boswell to run in from the 22-metre line.

The try was converted to give North Berwick a 7-0 lead.

From the kick-off, Leith themselves had a good spell of possession, testing the North Berwick defence, but the visitors’ line showed no sign of breaking.

However, a penalty gave Leith their first chance, which they took to make it 7-3.

The pitch was heavy and slippy, which resulted in the game getting bogged down for the next 20 minutes, but North Berwick remained dangerous whenever they had possession.

Nick Hart obliged with a well-deserved try for the pack as he gathered, controlled and drove over from close range after a sustained period of pressure to give North Berwick a 12-3 lead.

Arguably the best try of the match followed before half-time when, after a kick was gathered, the North Berwick backs combined to put Robbie Paton into space and the winger weaved inside to go over from the 10-metre line.

The try was converted to give North Berwick a 19-3 lead at half-time.

It was more of the same in the second half as the visitors moved the ball left and right at every opportunity.

A good break down the blindside, followed by a quick interchange of passes, saw winger Gavin Hogg put number eight Reece Patterson in for the fourth try.

Another try for Boswell soon followed when a dominant scrum collapsed just short of the line and the lock was on hand to dive over and extend North Berwick’s lead to 31-3.

Leith showed spirit in the closing stages and finished with a try of their own to finish the scoring at 31-10.

North Berwick host bottom side Duns at Recreation Park on Saturday, hoping to maintain their imperious run of form.