Dalziel Rugby Club stage successful youth festival

May 4 2011 By Andrew Weston

Dalziel Dragons

A FORMER British Lion stepped into the Dragon’s Den on Saturday for Dalziel Rugby Club’s 21st Festival of Youth Rugby.

Ian McLauchlan, the current president of the SRU and known throughout the rugby world as Mighty Mouse, was amongst the hundreds of supporters who came to enjoy a feast of rugby laid on by Dalziel RFC.

Forty-five teams from primary three through to under-18 level were at Dalziel Park, home of the club’s youth section, The Dalziel Dragons.

In glorious conditions the teams from all over Scotland and a guest touring side from York Rugby Club displayed great skill, fitness and commitment – the very spirit of rugby personified by the late Alan Calder, the man who initiated and developed the Festival 21 years ago.

SRU President McLauchlan, whose phenomenal scrummaging and animated loose play was at the heart of the British and Irish Lions test series successes in New Zealand (1971) and South Africa (1974), hailed the Motherwell club for their own special contribution to the sport.

The former Scotland captain presented trophies and medals to all players in the P4 and P6 groups and spoke for several minutes on the “supreme importance” of rugby events such as the Dalziel Festival, described as “the life blood of the game.”

Also amongst the principal guests were Pamela Dewar of Sportsmatch Scotland, and David Waddell of the former  Motherwell District Sports Council, now known as  Clubsportnl.

On the day Pamela Dewar presented a cheque for £8950 to Dalziel RFC Vice President Rod Harris to match a major sponsorship deal that Rod, on behalf of the club, had put in place with firm Europa earlier in the season.

Mr Waddell said, “Clubsportnl are delighted to have had a long association with Dalziel Rugby Club and have always been impressed with their commitment to the introduction and development of young players to the sport.

“It is fantastic to see this investment paying off, in particular with the large turnout of players and supporters from all over Scotland and beyond.”

Event organiser Graham Calder, son of the late Alan Calder, added: “This successful day was only made possible by the huge efforts and hard work of a vast number of people who contributed to the resounding success of the event. Many thanks to all who helped.”

Winner:, P3, Hamilton; P4, Dalziel Dragons; P5, Hamilton; P6, Hamilton Vampires; P7, Whitecraigs; S1, Dalziel; S2, York; U15, Biggar; U16, Dalziel; U18, The Alan Calder Trophy, Edinburgh Bats.

The Schools Festival for The Harry Morton Trophy will take place at Dalziel Park on Friday May 6 at 10am with the presentation to winners at 1.30pm.

For more pictures of the weekend’s festival go to www.wishawpress.co.uk on Thursday (May 5) or buy next week’s paper out on Wednesday May 11.