Rugby festival an overwhelming hit

Apr 29 2009 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

FOR the 19th successive year, the playing fields of Dalziel Park in Motherwell hosted the Dalziel Festival of Youth Rugby at the weekend, with 950 youngsters – from the age of primary two right through to under- 18s level – playing 70 matches on six pitches.

Superb overhead conditions ensured Saturday’s tournament was another resounding success for teams who came from all over Lanarkshire as well as from Dunfermline and Greenock.

This year, two visiting Irish teams – Hollywood RFC and County Down and Carrickfergus RFC – also contributed hugely to the overwhelming success of the day.

SRU President Jim Stevenson took time out from a busy weekend schedule to take in the rugby and present pennants and medals to the winning teams.

After the Dalziel Festival of Youth Rugby, he said: “Quite simply, this is what grass roots rugby is all about.”

Results were as follows: Morton Trophy, Duncanrig; Plate Competition, St. Maurice's; P1-P3, everyone is a winner; P4, Uddingston; P5, Strathaven; P6, Dalziel; P7, Strathaven; S1, Biggar; S2, Hollywood (Northern Ireland); under 15, West of Scotland; under 16, Dalziel; under 18, The Calder Trophy, West of Scotland.

The presence of the excellent sporting facilities provided by the Dalziel High School War Memorial Trust and close co-operation between Dalziel RFC and Dalziel High School ensured the smooth running of the event.

Look out for more action shots in next week’s Wishaw Press.

NEAT FOOTWORK: a youngster sidesteps his way past an opponent during another successful festival of rugby at Dalziel Park in Motherwell at the weekend. Teams came from all over the county to participate as well as from further afield and Ireland.JDWSH270409rugby-1