Dalziel promotion dream ends after defeat by champs

Apr 22 2009 by Chris Clements, Wishaw Press

Dalziel promotion dream ends after defeat by champs

DALZIEL’S promotion hopes were dashed following a narrow defeat against runaway league leaders Howe of Fife at the weekend.

The Motherwell side got the bonus point they wanted from the match but it was a losing point for being within seven points of the winner rather than a bonus point for scoring four tries.

At the final whistle of a close-run match, it was Howe who were able to maintain their 100 per cent record with 20 wins in 20 matches.

However, it could have been so different if Dalziel had capitalised on a multitude of first-half chances.

Andy Hill, who has been consistent with his goal-kicking exploits all season, missed two penalty chances in the first quarter.

Craig Simmonds and Crawford Reid combined well to set up centre Barry Turnbull, who charged for the line but was held up.

A lot of big hits were put in by both sides and it looked as if the big Dalziel number eight, Craig Simmonds, would have to leave the park after one but a few minutes of medical attention saw him resume his position at the heart of the Dalziel defence.

Dalziel then missed a golden opportunity to score the first try.

A poor clearance kick was fielded by winger Victor Czarnocki, who fed full-back Robert Simpson, running in at pace.

Simpson then released Czarnocki with an inside pass and the winger broke three tackles as he sprinted towards the Howe goal line. He drew the Howe full-back on the 10-metre line and then fed an inside pass to wing forward Paul Beer. However, with no-one to beat, he knocked the ball forwards with the try line beckoning.

On the 40th minute, Dalziel were rewarded for their first-half efforts.

The forwards engineered a series of rucks and rolling mauls down the right wing and on the 10-metre line the ball was fed quickly wide along the Dalziel backs.

Robert Simpson, at full-back, came into the attack and his line of running saw him slice through the covering defence to score between the posts.

Hill converted to give Dalziel a well-deserved lead and it looked as if they would take this lead into half-time.

However, in the seventh minute of injury time, calamity struck for Dalziel. Centre John Harris, under no pressure, put in a slack pass on the half-way line that was intercepted by his opposite number, who ran 40 metres, drawing Simpson into the tackle, and off-loading the ball to his fellow centre, giving him the easiest of run-ins from 10 metres. The Howe fullback kicked the conversion to make it 7-7 at half-time.

Dalziel started the second half aggressively and took the play deep into the opposition 22. But Howe of Fife are not the league champions for nothing. Through a series of darting runs, rucks and mauls, they advanced deep into the Dalziel half and, on the 22-metre line a Dalziel forward was adjudged to be offside at a ruck and the Howe full-back kicked the penalty to put them into the lead.

So ended a match that Dalziel could have won but, because of missed opportunities, the points went to champions Howe.