Aberdeenshire Rugby team's Alex Duncan (Pic by Kenny Elrick)
Aberdeenshire maintained their promotion challenge after claiming three points in a superb game at Kirkcaldy.
Both sides scored five tries and kicked three conversions.
Shire coach Alex Duncan said: “We had a seriously understrength team but the replacements came good, including third team prop Mark Littlejohn, who had a stormer of a game.
“I was pleased with the performance but, after scoring four tries in the first 20 minutes, we should have gone on to win.”
Shire led 31-17 by half-time but failed to add a point in the second half, enabling Kirkcaldy to tie the game.
Duncan was happy with his side’s determination and added: “We were competing right to the end and were particularly strong in defence.”
The two points for a draw and one for scoring five tries keeps Shire in fifth place, 12 points behind leaders Kelso, who were 30-16 winners at Preston Lodge who visit Woodside on Saturday.
The East Lothian team leaked 80 points when the sides last met in September, although Preston Lodge have improved since then and have won six of their 12 starts.
The Shire try scorers were centre Paul Paxton, who grabbed an early brace, Luke Taylor, Scott Simpson and Olly Ryan.
Aberdeenshire take three points at Kirkcaldy to keep promotion dream alive
