TITLE WAS IN OUR HANDS
Coach says Dalziel would‘ve triumphed
Gutted Dalziel coach Graham Calder says the West League Two title was within their grasp before the SRU axed the full campaign.
That brought to an end a title battle between the Motherwell side and leaders Strathaven, who were 15 points clear but having played four more games.
Scottish Rugby last week made the decision to scrap promotion and relegation, due to the coronavirus shutdown.
In ordinary circumstances, Calder says he has no doubt that Dalziel would have won their games and overtaken their rivals, but it just makes them more determined to take the crown next season.
He said: “The boys are disappointed not to have the opportunity to win the league, which was in our hands, but we do understand the decision.
“This season tells me that we’re more than capable of winning the league, provided that we keep working hard, and that’s going to be the challenge for next season.
“The challenge will now be to make sure we fulfil that goal of winning the league, and it gives us an opportunity to get the credit the boys deserve, because I genuinely believe that we would have won our games in hand.
“Being crowned champions would be fantastic for all the boys.”
Calder has sympathy for Scottish Rugby bosses and says whatever decision they made would have been met with disapproval.
He said: “Myself and everybody at the club appreciates that there are far more important things going on right now than fulfilling fixtures in a league campaign.
“That’s our main thought at this moment in time.
“The boys are disappointed, but it was a difficult task for Scottish Rugby, and they couldn’t possibly keep everyone happy.
“There were different proposals put forward and, in terms of average points, those proposals would have worked in our favour.
“It went to a vote across all clubs in the country and the final decision was therefore to deem the season null and void.
“That was the one that had the least impact on the majority of the clubs, so I think this is what we all thought would happen.”
Calder says his side will get on with the decision and start planning for next season.
“It gives us another season to get better and keep developing,” he added.
“I have no doubt that we will be back.”