Dalziel Rugby Club’s losing run continues

Nov 23 2011 by Andrew Weston, Wishaw Press

DALZIEL lost for the fourth consecutive week on Saturday when they went down 20-17 to Ardrossan Academicals at Memorial Park.

The first half was an even affair, with the sides turning at 10 points apiece.

However, Ardrossan scored a crucial second-half penalty to sneak a tight half and win the game.

Dalziel’s points came from tries by Scott Johnstone and Kyle Matheson. while Robert Simpson added seven points from the boot.

The dip in form will be a real worry for coach Davie Wilson, who witnessed Dalziel begin a losing run at this stage of the season last term, a run which continued until mid-April.

The Motherwell outfit sit comfortably in seventh place and despite no relegation out of Premier Three this season they will be keen to compete at the right end of the table and not let things drift.

The Second XV also lost on the road to Musselburgh 40-0.

Losing three early scores they never fully recovered, though the visitors did manage to stem the flow and play some encouraging rugby in the later stages of the first half.

A try for the home side on the stroke of half-time effectively ended the game as a contest. The second half was closer with Musselburgh only managing two tries, the latter coming near the end of the match after both Eddy and Grant Ferguson had been sinbinned with only seven minutes

left on the clock.

The Third XV were hosting Waysiders/Drumpellier’s Second XV and ran out comfortable 53-5 winners. Scores came from Willie Wylie, Jordan Donaldson, Vic Czarnocki, Russell Cramond, Davie Stewart and four from in-form Scott McLelland. Stewart also slotted four conversions.

The game saw three other milestones.

Former Scotland Under-18 prop Stuart Caulfield made his comeback to the game after eight years out, Davie Jamieson officiated his first game as a qualified referee and there was another father/son combination, with Fraser Joyce being joined on the pitch by his father Alan.

The Fourth XV travelled to play Marr’s 3rd XV with only 13 players but were still able to put in an excellent performance, running out 31-17 winners.

Jason Campbell, Steven Smith and Gary Colquhoun all bagged tries, while man of the match Neil Gracie scored twice.

Scott Rodgers contributed six points from the boot.

Next week sees the First XV travel to second bottom Haddington.

The Second XV travel to Biggar, while the Third XV, Fourth XV and Under-18s are at home to Whitecraigs, Cumnock 2nd XV and Dumfries, respectively.