Dalziel edge closer to National League Division One title

Apr 22 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

DALZIEL put themselves within touching distance of the Scottish Hydro National League Division One championship with an emphatic win over Livingston.

The Motherwell side now need one win from their remaining two matches to lift the trophy, but will have to wait until at least May 1 when they face Ellon.

However, the Dalziel Park club are preparing for life in Premier 3.

From kick-off Dalziel made their intentions known and within five minutes Gillon Duguid set up Robert Harris for the opening try, with Robert Simpson converting.

A penalty from Livingston was quickly responded to when Craig Simmonds offloaded to Euan Stewart to go over for the second try, with Simpson again converting for 14-3.

Livingston slotted a second penalty in 15 minutes, only for Dalziel to immediately score again from a driving maul, with Craig Simmonds the scorer, with Simpson converting for 21-6.

On 30 minutes Andy Hill set up Craig Lewis for the fourth bonus point-winning try, with Simpson maintaining his 100 per cent record.

Stand-off Ross McAulay pressed with a good tactical kick and from the resulting possession Fraser Duguid kicked crossfield for John Harris to score the fifth try, with Simpson’s conversion taking the score to 35-6.

Just before the interval an inside break by Barry Turnbull saw him offload to John Goldie, and he released Fraser Duguid to go over, for a 40-6 half-time score.

Fraser Duguid had scored again by 45 minutes and five minutes after that Stewart added his own second.

Try of the day arrived in 55 minutes when a brilliant break by George Sloan saw him offload to Stewart and his pass found John Goldie.

Goldie gave the ball to Barry Turnbull and he timed the final pass to take out the covering full-back with Simpson finishing the move off for a 55-6 scoreline.

Livingston added a well-worked try of their own for 55-11, but Dalziel immediately responded when Craig Simmonds put George Sloan over for a score.

Livingston scored their second converted try of the day for 60-18 but Dalziel responded with a blindside break and score for Crawford Reid, with Simpson again converting.

Livingston’s final score of the day came on 72 minutes, with the conversion pulling the score back to 67-25.

With five minutes to go Dalziel scored a converted try by Fraser Duguid, and he added another in the final minute, taking the score to 79-25.