PEEBLES coach Ewen Robbie insisted his side feared no-one - despite kicking of their new campaign in National League Division One with a defeat away to Watsonians.

The Gytes side trailed the home team 26-3 at half-time at Myreside on Friday night. But the visitors were equal to the hosts with the scores tied seven a-piece in the second half.

And Robbie insisted his team had Watsonians rattled.

“I don’t think the boys realise how close they were to Watsonians,” he told the Border Telegraph pitchside after the full-time whistle. “It was a tough start but we matched them in every department and actually worried them.

“We had two mistakes which cost us tries and a couple of injuries worked against us. If we could have been spot on with some of those things tonight I could have seen it being a different result.

“We probably squandered 14 points there and that’s a lot.” Nevertheless, he added: “I’m very, very encouraged because we’re moving on. It’s all about taking your chances but we’re not far away. We get those guys in and they’ll not be scared of a lot of teams.” Peebles fell behind after less than three minutes when James King - one of six new players in the Watsonians starting line-up - dived over for the try on his debut, converted by fellow new boy David Blair, to put the home side 7-0 ahead.

And only some resolute defending prevented them going behind further as Watsonians, coached by former Scotland stars Marcus Di Rollo and Simon Taylor, threatened to run riot.

Peebles, meanwhile, were keen to put recent heavy defeats to Melrose and Selkirk in the Border League behind them. But they were forced into an early reshuffle after losing Greg Raeburn to a twisted ankle.

And, just after the visitors started to make up some ground, Watsonians extended their lead with two tries in five minutes.

Ewan Miller scored in the 26th minute after the home team broke down the wing. Blair added the conversion to double the score, 14-0.

Scott McLeod, a summer acquisition from Hawick, added a third try in the corner just after the half hour. But Blair missed the conversion to give Peebles some respite at 19-0.

And then, in the 38th minute, Miller ensured a bonus point for the home side when he scored his second and Watsonians’ fourth, which this time was converted by Blair.

But Mitch McGahan slotted over a penalty for Peebles from the Watsonians’ 10 metre line to make the half-time score 26-3.

Watsonians were first out the changing rooms after the break and continued the second half as they started the first.

Johno Swiatek had to be alert to deny Scott McKean in the corner. But Watsonians pounced on the poor clearance kick to add to the scoring. Miller grabbed his third try in the 50th minute, which was converted by Blair, to put the home side up 33-3.

Just after the hour mark, Peebles were awarded a penalty in front of the Watsonians posts as a reward for their persistence. They opted not to kick the points and instead ran the ball and the move paid off as Neil Hogarth scored the visitors’ only try of the match. McGahan added the conversion to bring the score back to 33-10.

However, moments later he was injured and had to be carried off – adding to Peebles’ injury woes.

Watsonians finished the game a man down after Jonathan Goldring was shown a yellow card. But, by that stage, the match, as a contest, was over.

Reflecting on his first competitive game as coach, Taylor said: “It was good, certainly the first half; we played some really nice stuff.” But he added: “We kind of lost our way in the second half, Peebles put us under some real pressure at the break down, and I think they had the better second half.” Watsonsians: Rory Steele, Mark Bertram, Scott McKean, James King, Scott McLeod, David Blair, Reiss Cullen; Martin Christie, Tom Johnson, Ali Marsh, Torrie Callander, Roman Denonain, Jonny Neary, Ewan Miller, Andrew Joseph. Replacements: Darren Miller, Nathan Borel, Jonathan Goldring, Euan McKirdy.

Peebles: Greg Raeburn, Jack Harrison, Callum Anderson, Neil Hogarth, Conor Blyth, Mitch McGahan, Donald Anderson (c); Willy Napier, Graham Turner, Ross Brown, Johno Swiatek, Graham Hogarth, Lynton Brinck, Andrew Muir. Replacements: Gav Pringle, Andrew Brown, Kenny Clyde, Ruaridh Clinch, William Brown.