Linlithgow Reds saw their East Region League Division One title hopes suffer a huge blow as they went down 17-12 at home to Ross High.
The two sides went into the clash at Mains Park occupying second and third spots in the table and it was the higher ranked visitors who picked up the points in a thrilling contest.
Linlithgow, who suffered a first league defeat in eight games, were missing some key players and that could well have been crucial in the outcome of the contest.
The loss means that the Reds must win all three of their remaining games – which includes a home clash with joint-leaders North Berwick next weekend – if they are to have any hope of sealing the title.
Ross High had the better of the early exchanges but the game settled into something of a midfield battle with the visitors on three occasions being unable to make use of an overlap on the right wing as the Reds defence held firm.
The turning point came around the half-hour mark when Linlithgow’s Ross Tulloch was shown a yellow card after the referee deemed his knock-on to be deliberate, with Ross High taking full advantage of the extra man.
They opened the scoring with the game’s first try four minutes later as they eventually broke down the stubborn Linlithgow defence before extending their lead to 12-0 at the interval as they scored under the posts on the last play of the first-half.
The Reds seemed to wake up after the interval and mounted early pressure that paid dividends after 10 minutes as Cammy Murrie charged over the line with Aidan Rennison adding the extra two points as the sizeable home crowd burst into life.
The hosts continued to enjoy the better of the play but suffered a self-inflicted injury as a loose pass was intercepted with Ross High taking full advantage with their third score of the game.
With the contest entering the final 10 minutes, Linlithgow threw everything at their opponents in a bid to try to drag themselves back into it and they made it count.
A successful scrum led to Murrie bursting through but while he was stopped short of the line, Ross Martin was in the right place at the right time to dive under the posts.
Gregor Maclean, who had come on for Rennison, added the conversion to bring Linlithgow within three points with a few minutes remaining.
The atmosphere was building and the tension increasing when Linlithgow suffered a blow as second row Neil Lockhart fell awkwardly and had to be carted off the field.
Credit to both teams in the closing moments as all players were straining every effort – Linlithgow to win and Ross High to secure the fourth bonus-point try.
The referee awarded a penalty to the visitors and they decided enough was enough. The first penalty kick at goals of the game was taken but it missed to end the game, leaving Ross High 17-14 winners.
The Reds are back in action on Saturday as they host Forrester knowing any slip up will see their slim title hopes wiped out.
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