This was an eight point game for both teams. If Lasswade lost, they would swap third bottom for second bottom place with their opponents, win and they put some air between them.

Fielding an experienced opening fifteen Lasswade kicked off towards the town on a firm but damp pitch but, for a change, no moisture in the even more unusually still air.

If the importance of points on the board needed any proof it came in the first 2 minutes. Awarded a no-arm-tackle penalty just inside the PL half, Lasswade handed the ball to Smith. Their confidence was repaid with three points.

With both scrums and lineouts going with the side putting in, the main battle was in the open but even there territory and possession was fairly evenly shared. PL needed just four minutes for Falgate to level the score after a failure to release and half an hour had passed before Smith took his side into a half-time, 6-3, lead after another ruck offence.

Falgate levelled the score 2 minutes into the second period but Lasswade returned the restart and after 3 minutes in the visitors’ 22, a series of rucks on the line set Robertson up to roll off the defenders and touch down wide out. Smith was on target with the conversion.

With both sides still taking points where they could, Falgate and Smith exchanged penalties around the 50 minute mark and Smith maximised a PL yellow card and stretched the home lead to 19-9 early in the last quarter.

With 10 minutes left, Lasswade’s signature lineout catch and drive succeeded at about it’s sixth attempt with Elliot touching the ball down and Smith was accurate again for the two.

PL stepped up the tempo and threatened the home line several times but the last ditch defence held out until, with just two minutes left. Johnstone finished off a quick tap penalty 10 metres out and Falgate converted.

A PL infringement from the restart gave Smith the chance to bring his personal tally to 19 and also run down the clock to the final score of 29-14.

Results elsewhere mean both sides stay where they are in the table. Lasswade are level with Berwick on points but way behind on points difference and PL’s game in hand would still leave them needing at least a point to catch Lasswade (and Berwick).

Lasswade have another swing game this Saturday when they travel to Newton Stewart who prop up the table with just 2 wins from their 11 outings. Kick-offs now 3.00pm.