Rugby: Dalziel win 55-14 over Edinburgh University

Mar 11 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

DALZIEL Rugby Club resumed their Scottish Hydro National League One title bid with an emphatic 55-14 home win over Edinburgh University.

The Motherwell side showed no ill effects of their enforced winter hibernation and are now just seven points from guaranteed promotion.

In front of 200 enthusiastic fans they couldn’t have asked for a better start and were 7-0 up within five minutes of the match when after an Edinburgh error John Harris was allowed to collect the loose ball and pass to Gillon Duguid, who raced between the posts.

Robert Simpson converted to give the Lanarkshire side the perfect start.

And within 10 minutes good passing allowed John Goldie to go over in the corner and the lead was stretched to 12-0 in favour of Dalziel.

After 30 minutes another error from the students was pounced on by Harris and he sped between the posts with Simpson’s conversion stretching the lead to 19-0.

Dalziel then switched off somewhat, however, and the University scored two converted tries, reducing the interval deficit to just 19-14.

Dalziel started the second half intent on making up for those mistakes and within six minutes a great break by Blake Whitehead was supported by Crawford Reid who linked with Simpson to score.

By the 55th minutes some good forward play set up a try for Andy Hill, which Simpson converted, taking the lead to 31-14.

Dalziel were now in the ascendancy and Simpson increased the home side’s lead with a drop goal good back play from Harris and Vic Czarnocki released Duguid for his second try.

Within minutes Gillon Duguid had touched down for his third try, converted by Simpson for 48-14.

Dalziel completed the scoring in 75 minutes when Czarnocki rounded off a powerful break by Craig Simmonds, with Simpson converting.

Gordonians have withdrawn from the Scottish Hydro Shield, meaning Dalziel progress to the last eight.