It took a mere four minutes for Dumfries to be awarded their first penalty of the game which they converted to go 3-0 up.
After some Berwick defensive work a kick was charged down which bounced over the Berwick try line and was collected easily by an oncoming Dumfries player. This was converted once again by their no 10 bringing the score to 10-0 after only ten minutes.
Shortly after that Berwick gave away another penalty and the deadly boot of their no 10 struck once again taking the score to 13-0. After the restart, Berwick exerted sustained pressure and moved the ball much better, showing at times what they were capable of, resulting in Berwick being awarded a penalty just into the Dumfries half which Mattie McCreath narrowly failed to convert. From the ensuing 22 Dumfries managed to break through the Berwick defence to score another converted try moving the score to 20-0.
As half time aproached Berwick had some sustained pressure in the Dumfries half and from a good position on the 22m line they give away another penalty allowing the opposition to clear their lines, and from the ensuing line-out score a try, although not converted this time and the first half finished at 25-0.
Immediately after Dumfries kicked off they were awarded another penalty which took the score to 28-0. Shortly after this and during some good pressure by Berwick Chris Riddell was shown a yellow card.
When Berwick were playing with 14 men they seemed to gather together and played much more as a team and during a good bit of play Mattie McCreath threw out a long pass which eluded all Berwick players and was picked up Dumfries for them to run from their 22m line to score between the posts - 35-0.
Not long after this Berwick's try came with Duncan Budge managing to get over the line and Mattie McCreath converting well for 35-7. This led to an instant reply by Dumfries with another converted try 42-7. A further three tries, one of which was blatant crossing, and with only one converted took the final score to 59-7 and the final whistle.
This was a score which was disappointing for the Black's first outing, but a performance which was not as bad as the score reflects, and on a day when simply everything went the oppositions way. Saying this all our players must stand up and take responsibility for giving away too many opportunities and too much good ball enabling the opposition's very able backs to run with. Berwick's positives were in the line out, where ball was mostly well gathered, and solid tackling, commonly a weak area last season.
Next week sees the Blacks at home to Edinburgh University, the Bears at Hawick and the Colts at home to Langholm. All with a 3pm KO's – supporters will be most welcome.