Rugby club try to keep dream alive

Apr 1 2009 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

Dalziel 31 .........Annan 19

Scottish Hydro Electric National League Division One.

DALZIEL kept their slim promotion hopes alive with a workmanlike victory over Annan at the weekend.

The Motherwell side had to come from behind in the second half to secure the win and an important bonus point.

With Howe of Fife already promoted to Premiership Division Three, there is just one remaining promotion slot available – and it looks like being a straight fight between Dalziel and second placed Dumfries.

But with three games of the league campaign remaining the Borders side, five points ahead of their rivals, are now strong favourites to secure promotion after they thrashed Cambuslang 62-19 on Saturday.

The pressure seemed to be getting to Dalziel in the first 30 minutes of their match against Annan with a lack of discipline providing the visiting scrum half with four penalty kick opportunities which he confidently converted.

Poor handling at key moments was also affecting the home side’s play but just before half-time they got it right scoring a well-worked try.

A lineout was won on the half way line and a series of rolling mauls saw the Dalziel forwards make their way towards the try line.

Number eight Craig Simmonds broke off and tied in three defenders before releasing winger Vic Czarnoki who had come in from his wing to score between the posts.

Andy Hill added the conversion and Dalziel came in at half-time somewhat fortunate to be only 12-7 down.

Hill kicked a penalty shortly after the break but for long periods of the second period, mistakes were hindering Dalziel’s chances of not only grabbing an extra bonus point but winning the match.

It was not until the final quarter when Dalziel's fitness started to show that their efforts began to reap rewards.

A lineout on the twenty-two metre line again saw the forwards drive towards the line.

Despite strong defence from Annan, weight of numbers allowed Blake Whitehead to crash over the line for another try with Hill adding the extras.

The home side’s third try came courtesy of an opportunistic effort from full back Fraser Duguid.

Having kicked the ball over the Annan defensive line it appeared that the away side’s full back and winger had the time to clear the ball into touch.

But hesitancy allowed Duguid to sprint 25 metres and touch the ball down in the in-goal area for the third try of the afternoon.

The fourth try was not long in coming.

Craig Lewis, surely one of the best ball-playing props in the lower leagues, barged and then waltzed his way past three Annan defenders before passing to Craig Simmonds who made ten metres and then offloaded to the supporting Robert Simpson.

The full back scored under the posts with Hill then keeping up his 100 per cent kicking record with the simple conversion.

Annan did score a late consolation try thanks to their winger picking up a loose ball and running the length of the park.

This weekend, Dalziel take a break from league duty as they travel to Hawick YM, a division below them, in the National Shield Competition.

Premier One giants Glasgow Hawks lie in wait for the winner of this tie.