Dalziel survive Cartha fightback

Sep 21 2011 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

Dalziel Rugby Club

DALZIEL Rugby Club survived a stirring Cartha Queen’s Park comeback to shoot up to fourth in the Premier Three table on Saturday thanks to a narrow 31-26 win at Dumbreck Road.

The Motherwell lads produced a stunning first half to open up a 31-0 lead, Robert Simpson kicked four penalties and two conversions, adding to tries by Craig Simmonds, Kyle Matheson and Ross Westwood.

However, Cartha scored two converted tries before the break to get themselves back into the contest.

Two more tries after the interval, with one converted, saw them reduce Dalziel’s lead to just five points.

The visitors were under huge amounts of pressure throughout the half but superb defence allowed them to cling on for an impressive victory.

This weekend Davie Wilson’s side will look to build on their confident start to the season which has seen them win three of their first four fixtures when they take on bottom of the table Perthshire at Dalziel Park (3pm kick-off).

Indiscipline cost Dalziel’s 2nd XV local bragging rights as they went down to a 29-23 defeat at Laigh Bent against Hamilton in a Reserve League Two clash.

The Motherwell lads were 23-17 up after 65 minutes before a series of penalties and James Baxendale’s sin-binning allowed Hamilton to turn the game on its head.

It’s the third time in three matches the Seconds have let slip a lead going into the closing stages.

Their tries were scored by Paul White, Darren Moon and Scott Johnstone

Dalziel’s under-18s suffered a 20-14 home defeat against Greenock Wanderers in their West Division One fixture.

Their tries were scored by Grant Stewart and Euan Watt with Ryan Watters converting both efforts.

Dalziel’s under-16s made the long trip to Stewartry in Castle Douglas on Sunday and came away with the points following a 39-21 victory.

They scored three unanswered tries in the first half through Calum Glover, David Connelly and Craig Muir with Martin McCormack converting two before the hosts struck back to make it 19-14 at half-time.

A back to basics approach in the second half allowed Dalziel to move clear, Andrew Davidson, Chris Mullin, Calum Glover going over the line, Gary Stokes converting a try, and Martin McCormack kicking a penalty.

The win puts them third in the Scottish Under-16 League West Division One.