Rugby: Dalziel close in on title

Jan 27 2010 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

DALZIEL Rugby Club are on the verge of clinching the first league title in their 86-year history.

The National League Division One outfit secured a vital 11-6 victory over second placed Whitecraigs on Saturday that leaves them seven points ahead of their rivals with just six games to go.

The result means Dalziel have won all 16 of their league matches this season.

“Saturday was a huge win for the club,” immediate past president Gordon Turnbull told the Wishaw Press this week.

“It was an impressive performance especially given the boys had not played for six weeks. It was a big lay-off and the pressure was on but they stood up to the task superbly.

“We had a lot more composure and were very patient and that made a big difference. We were very pleased and the boys were delighted.”

Whitecraigs and Dalziel have been the stand-out sides in the league this season and Dalziel were fully expecting a tough encounter against the Glasgow side having narrowly beaten them 16-13 at West Lodge back in October.

Turnbull continued: “It was a tight match as we expected but we never looked like losing.

“Our defence was excellent at vital times. When needed we put some strong tackles in and the back-row were particularly impressive.”

He added: “If we win our six games even without bonus points we would win the title and it is very difficult to see us losing from here.

“Ellon in third are quite a bit behind, but it is up to us to finish it off. We now know week by week we are capable of winning each match, so we have to continue in the same manner with the same mental approach.”

Dalziel’s inconsistency and failure to convert pressure into tries and vital bonus points has cost them in recent seasons.

However Turnbull believes it was only a matter of time before the side would turn a corner and push for honours saying: “The squad has been developing over the past number of years.

“These are the same players as we have had for a few seasons and now they have matured into young men and take on a lot more responsibility on the park.

“It has been years of hard work and it has all come together on the park which is very satisfying. They have matured as individuals and as a team.

“We thought we were capable of promotion this year and are just over the moon that we have managed to go undefeated so far.”

With the club having success from grassroots to first team level there is a real buzz around Dalziel Park this season and naturally Turnbull expects some higher profile clubs to approach their first team stars in the close season.

He said: “There will be a few clubs sniffing about some of our players but I think the guys enjoy the experience and enjoy playing with teammates they played with at youth level.

“I think if we go up to Premier Three we will hold on to them. But if they wanted to leave we would not stop them and they would go with our blessing.”

This Saturday (January 30) Dalziel host Livingston who they comfortably defeated 31-13 earlier in the season.