Dalziel step closer to safety

Dalziel...............24 Hillhead..............3

Rugby

set up a ruck. Glover took a short pass from Calder at the base to burst through and score his sides opening try. He then added the extras to take his side into a 7-0 lead after 12 minutes.

From the restart, Dalziel gave away a penalty and Hillhead kicked to the corner. However, they were unable to make this field position count and were penalised for crossing with the try line begging.

Dalziel won a line- out deep inside the visitor’s half, and drove the ball close to the try line. The maul began to fracture, and Calder took the ball from the back, and popped to Burrell who barged through to score under the posts. Glover converted and Dalziel were 14-0 up with 23 minutes played.

Dalziel were pressing for a third try, but a penalty for hands on the deck gave Hillhead rare possession, and the men from Glasgow weren’t going to let this opportunity go unused. They attacked hard, and eventually won another penalty in kickable position.

With half time approaching, Euan Brown opted for the posts and slotted the kick to get his side on the score board and bring the score back to 14-3.

Hillhead attacked again from the kick off, but half time was called after a pass went forward.

The second half continued where the first had finished, with Hillhead enjoying the lion’s share of the possession and territory. Dalziel were showing real grit and maturity in defence, and denied the visitors, phase after phase.

Dalziel were able to get a hold of the ball after 8 minutes of solid defending, and moved play to the half way line, before a high tackle by Owen Gemmell gave Glover another shot at goal. The centre made no mistake and extended Dalziel’s lead to 14 points.

Hillhead were relentless in their pursuit of their first try, but Dalziel held fast. Dalziel eventually cleared the ball long, only for Armand Bauchet to run the ball back.

The speedster looked odds on to score, but a superb covering tackle by McWhinnie halted the attack.

With less than five minutes left on the clock, Dalziel made a foray into the visiting 22, and were looking for a third try to kill the game.

The Hillhead discipline was dropping, and Dalziel were sending every penalty into the corner. From one lineout, Dalziel drove forward, before the ball found its way to Craig Simmonds, who was able to reach out and score to the left of the posts. Glover converted and Dalziel were 24-3 up with less than a minute left to play.

Dalziel pressed for the bonus point try, almost forcing a turnover. However, in the process, the ball was kicked into touch and the game was finished. Dalziel had another crucial victory in their quest for National League survival.

The Second XV had no game as Glasgow Academicals were unable to raise a team, while the Third XV lost 55-12 to a well-drilled Allan Glens. Danny Davis and Davie Stewart scoring Dalziel’s only points.

Next week the First XV are away to Murrayfield Wanderers, while the Second XV are away to Cartha Queens Park. The Third XV are also away to Kilmarnock.