Dundee High were more than a little rusty and a serious injury to Campbell Cunningham disrupted their rhythm but they still managed a bonus point win over Falkirk at Mayfield to open their BT National League One campaign.
There were the usual opening game errors and High struggled a little with some of the new breakdown rule changes, running up a huge penalty count for their hosts.
However the gap between the teams meant the home team could even ride that disadvantage with some comfort, not surrendering a point while scoring five tries themselves.
Dundee took command in the wake of the lengthy delay for a serious injury to flanker Cunningham, who was stretchered from the field and later taken by ambulance to hospital after lasting just eight minutes of his first game for the club.
Falkirk’s Calum McPherson was yellow carded for his part in the injury incident, and in his absence Dundee scored three quickfire tries.
First No 8 Ali Mackie went over after a powerful scrum drive against the seven men, then Ronan Joy finished after Josh Rutnagur switched the play and found veterans Alan Brown and Danny Levison to work space for their wing.
The best of the trio of tries was the third, Fraser McKay and Evan Fairweather combining with pop passes up the right touchline to put Neil Herron, making a comeback from a long injury lay-off, in under the posts.
Fraser McKay converted all three for a comfortable 21-0 lead but High then lost their way from a concerted spell as they struggled to get on ref Dunx McClement’s wavelength and some of the new breakdown rules.
Brown was yellow carded as the ref lost patience but High negotiated the ten minute spell a man down either side of half-time without damage.
The long wait for the bonus point try ended 15 minutes into the second half when McKay’s break up the touchline forced a penalty, High kicked to touch and then drove the lineout ball for prop James Forrester to score.
That went unconverted, but Levison then scored a fine solo try from a clean lineout take, shrugging off four tacklers on his way to the line from 30 metres out, McKay adding the extras.
Falkirk tried to fight back and seemed to be about to score under the posts but scrum-half Fionnlagh Call spilled the ball in contact as he stretched out to touch down, and the visitors were unable to get a point for their efforts.
Dundee HSFP: F McKay; E Fairweather, N Herron, A Hamilton, R Joy; R McGinn, J Rutnagur; J Forrester, C Mathieson, A Brown; G Arnott, N Turnbull; C Cunningham, D Levison, A Mackie.
Falkirk: E Rooney; R Cameron, G Ramsay, C Rennie, A Connolly; M Clark, F Call; J McKenna, S Govan, D Ashworth; S McGlynn, C McPherson; A McNab, M Mladenovic, S McCulloch.
Ref: D McClement.
