The visitors to West Lodge on Saturday were Dumfries and Whitecraigs were keen to put last week's draw behind them and come away with maximum points.

However, Dumfries ensured that this was not the case and the home side ran out 20 - 3 winners but the important bonus point eluded them.

On a beautiful day for rugby, calm overhead and firm underfoot, it was the home side that were out of the blocks first with a series of forays deep into the opposition territory.

Unfortunately, the final pass going astray or handling errors denied them the opening score. The breakthrough came from a set scrum on the home 10 metre line and giant centre, Phil Nicol, seared through the Dumfries centres. A beautifully timed pass to Craig Percival saw the stand off score under the posts. Ryan Moffat converted and the score was 7-0.

The home support expected more of the same but the visitors had other thoughts and started to dominate the set piece and were more adept at the breakdown area. Craigs could not get a platform to launch their attacks and scrum half, Stuart Henderson, coped well with the disruptive ball.

Craigs put the visitors under more pressure but a high error count meant that the pressure could not be converted into points.

Dumfries had two penalty attempts which both missed but Moffat kept the scoreboard ticking over by adding two penalties to take the score 13-0 at half time.

After the break the Dumfries dominance at the scrum and breakdown resulted in more pressure on the home defence. This week, the first up tackling was much better and the visitors could not breech the line. Eventually, Dumfries troubled the scoreboard with a penalty to take the score to 13-3.

The rest of the second half was very stop start with handling errors on both sides. Injuries to the home side meant there were uncontested scrums and from one of these Craigs scored their second and last try. Again penetration was made through the centres and winger Biel Farrell scored and Moffat added the extras to take the score to 20-3.

The final whistle went and much to the relief of the crowd who had witnessed an afternoon of error strewn rugby by both sides. However, some players had a good afternoon for the home side. William Corbett had good runs from deep, Craig Percival was firm and secure at stand off, Phil Nicol and Ryan Moffat battled hard at centre. Blair Jardine converted to wing forward from hooker had a very good game and Biel Farrell threatened every time he had the ball.

The injury toll continues to mount with Ally McLeod dislocating his shoulder and man mountain Ross McDonald requiring hospital treatment to a head wound. The set piece scrummage, lineout will have to improve along with the breakdown area where ball was turned over on numerous occasions. Next week Whitecraigs are away to Falkirk KO 3.00pm.

Team: W Corbett, B Farrell, P Nicol, R Moffat, G Mahindru, C Percival, S Henderson: I Laidlaw, J Christine, D Rae, H Hunter, R McDonald, B Jardine, N Blamire, J Tait,: subs; R Jaap, A McLeod, G Berry, D McKelvie.