Dalziel Rugby Club up to fourth in Premier Three

Sep 28 2011 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

DALZIEL moved up to fourth in Premier Three following a crushing 58-7 victory over Perthshire at Dalziel Park on Saturday.

The in-form Motherwell lads ran in nine tries in their demolition of the league’s bottom side to record a fourth win on the bounce.

Club captain Graham Calder, who is currently out with an ongoing achilles injury, said: “Saturday was a tremendous win and the boys played extremely well.

“They are on an excellent run of form since the defeat to Kirkcaldy on the first game of the season.

“After the Kirkcaldy game we were all disappointed but they are top of the league and undefeated which puts it into perspective.

“The boys have been growing in confidence and improving as a unit, taking on board what the coaches have been saying.”

Calder praised both backs and forwards for their contributions in recent weeks that has led to them scoring plenty of tries so far this season.

The scrum-half said: “The backs are trying to play an expansive game and that has been shown in the fact we have claimed plenty of bonus points.

“But they can’t do anything without the forwards providing ball and they are improving every week.

“With the exception of the Kirkcaldy game I think they have had the better of each pack they have come up against.”

This weekend Dalziel face Dumfries down at Park Farm, a side which drew with leaders Kirkcaldy in Fife last weekend.

And Calder expects it to be a tousy affair against the Doonhamers.

He said: “It’s a very tough place to go and the fact they drew with Kirkcaldy proves they are a notoriously hard team to play against.

“I expect them to be in our face and prove stuffy opponents.

“But the team goes in with a winning mentality and can pull off a victory.”

Dalziel XV v Perthshire: Les Barclay, Stephen Baird, George Sloan, Kris Watters, John Morrissey, Kris Hughes, Craig Lewis, Craig Simmonds, Ross Donnachie, John Harris, Grant McCallum, Victor Czarnocki, Gillon Duguid, Derek McMillan, Robert Simpson

Substitutes: Willie Wylie, Gavin Smith, Eddy Ferguson, Lewis Matheson

Scorers: tries: John Morrissey, Craig Lewis, Craig Simmonds, Ross Donnachie (2), John Harris, Grant McCallum, Lewis Matheson (2)

Conversions: Robert Simpson (5)

Penalties: Robert Simpson.