Losing run continues for Dalziel against Perthshire Rugby Club

Apr 6 2011 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

DALZIEL Rugby Club’s losing run stretched to 12 games on Saturday as they suffered another second-half collapse.

Last week the Motherwell outfit threw away a 10-point half-time lead to lose 24-22 at Musselburgh.

On Saturday, they held an even more commanding 21-10 lead at the interval but contrived to lose 34-28.

Results elsewhere and the fact Dalziel managed to claim two bonus points means they have now moved 12 points clear of the relegation zone.

However, there will be concerns they could be on the end of a thrashing this weekend when Hamilton visit Dalziel Park, knowing a win will secure them a return to Premier Two.

Just three minutes in on Saturday, Dalziel were seven points down after Perthshire executed a fine converted try.

However, the Motherwell side quickly regrouped and started to take the game to their hosts.

A strong run by Craig Simmonds released Jamie McAulay and his pass to John Goldie allowed him to score their first try, which was converted by Robert Simpson.

Perth responded with a penalty but it was Dalziel who then commanded the rest of the half with two more tries from McAulay and James Baxindale and at half-time they had built up an 11-point advantage.

But after the restart it was virtually all Perthshire.

They continued to attack the Dalziel line early in the half and a penalty was knocked over, which narrowed the gap to eight points.

On the hour mark, they scored a converted try to make the score 20-21 and five minutes later Perthshire ran out of defence to score again and claim the lead at 27-21.

Dalziel rallied and from a driving maul Ross Donachie scored in the corner, Simpson knocking over the conversion to edge them back ahead by a single point with just two minutes of the match remaining.

However, the visitors failed to show the composure and game management skills to see out time.

Rather than play for territory with the wind in their favour, they allowed Perthshire one last attacking opportunity from 22 metres out which they took, scoring under the posts to claim a 34-28 win.

The coaching staff continually sent advice on to the park in the second half but the Dalziel lads failed to carry out the game plan, much to the frustration of those on the touchline.