Dunbar 24

Broughton 30

DUNBAR are bottom of East League Division 1 after a fourth consecutive defeat on Saturday.

The Hallhill side’s playing resources have been so stretched that an online appeal for players was circulated ahead of the match, with ex-captain Kyle Donnellan among those returnees.

An early penalty chance was turned down by Ross Charlton, and only a minute later Dunbar were left to rue that decision, as Broughton cleared up field, where poor tackling saw the visitors break through for the game’s first try.

Mark Coull’s Dunbar hit back through John Peebles shortly after, before the game was stopped for a considerable time, Ross Blair suffering a neck injury which required an ambulance – the second incident of its kind in seven days for a Dunbar player.

When the game restarted, now on the 2nd XV pitch, Dunbar kicked a penalty to touch and Ewan Patrizio burrowed over from close range.

Charlton converted, but Broughton scored their second try as their second row crashed over.

In an entertaining opening 40 minutes, Ewan Patrizio scored his second try after a solo run from his 22m line, which Charlton converted to extend Dunbar’s led to nine points, before missing a penalty.

Broughton, who had a man sent to the sin-bin late in the first half, got back into the match with a try on 52 minutes, and were within a point after kicking a penalty four minutes later.

Charlton was successful off the tee to give the home side a four-point cushion on the hour, but a fourth try for the visitors – securing a bonus point – made it a one-point game with 15 minutes to play.

And confusion around the score saw Broughton wrap up victory late on, thinking they were a point down, Coull’s side spread the ball wide, only for Broughton to intercept and score under the posts.

Dunbar threw everything into the last six minutes but the visitors held out, while the hosts also lost John Peebles to a late yellow card.

Despite being winless and stuck at the bottom of East 1, there was better news for Dunbar as Ross Blair was released from hospital with only tissue damage.

Dunbar: J Peebles, C Bryce, G Patrizio, G Peebles, A Elliot, R Charlton, T Salkeld; R Blair, D Blair, S Rodgers, D Moffat, K Donnellan, J Lister, N Spowart, E Patrizio