Revenge is sweet as Dalziel celebrate their first national league points

Sep 11 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

DALZIEL Rugby Club grabbed their first Scottish Hydro Electric National League Division One points of the new season, and revenge on Preston Lodge for last term’s Scottish Bowl Final defeat, winning 20-7.

The Motherwell side dominated this well-contested match at Pennypit Park, Prestonpans, in extremely windy conditions, and will be delighted with their win.

Dalziel made one change from the previous week, with Ian Adams coming in at lock for unavailable Eddie Ferguson.

New experimental variations are aimed at promoting a more flowing game by reducing kicking into touch, but conditions were such that the team making fewer mistakes would take the points.

Hooker Andy Hill nearly put points on the board for Dalziel after 15 minutes with a 28 metre penalty that struck a post.

But after Preston hooker Ross Anderson was yellow-carded for engaging the scrum too quickly, Dalziel took a deserved lead.

From a lineout on the 22, Dalziel caught and drove the maul forward, creating a series of driving mauls and gaining ground, before ball was fed to Ross McCaulay, who dummied before sprinting to the line.

He was held up, but with three team-mates in support he drove over the line at the posts to score his first league try for Dalziel. Hill converted for 7-0.

Preston Lodge were penalised shortly afterwards for slowing the game down, and Hill was again on target to make it 10-0.

Young Gavin Smith replaced Ian Adams at the interval, and Dalziel stretched their lead.

Robert Simpson’s clearance bounced out 10 metres short of the line and at the lineout scrum-half Ross Donnachie deflected to hooker Stephen Baird, who stepped inside, looking for McCaulay. Instead, he opted for winger Gillon Duguid, who collected at pace and evaded four Preston players to score in the corner. Andy Hill converted despite the angle, for 17-0.

However, Hill fell foul of the referee and was sin-binned for persistent infringements.

Preston took a quick-tap penalty, allowing Ross Anderson to head for the line, and he was pushed over for a consolation try. Graeme Patterson added the conversion.

However, Hill returned and sealed the points with a well-struck penalty for 20-7.

Dalziel are at home on Saturday to Cambuslang, 3pm kick-off.