Dalziel maul Annan to becrowned National League Division One champions

Apr 29 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

DALZIEL clinched the Scottish Hydro National League Division One title on Tuesday with another massive win over Annan.

The win maintains Dalziel’s impressive 100 per cent league record and they will end their season at Ellon on Saturday.

Dalziel arrived at Annan’s Violet Park intent on winning the championship and eagerly set about that task on a pleasant spring evening.

From kick-off Dalziel put pressure on their hosts and were rewarded in 10 minutes when Robert Simpson kicked behind the Annan defence for Fraser Duguid to score.

Simpson converted and Dalziel led 7-0.

On 18 minutes, after some powerful scrummage by the pack, the ball was passed to stand-off Ross McAulay, who released John Goldie to score in the corner for 12-0.

Four minutes later a charge-down by man-of-the-match Steven Baird forced Annan to scrum on their five-metre line. Dalziel won the ball, and Craig Simmonds passed to Goldie for his second try and a 17-0 lead.

Dalziel should have secured the four-try bonus point before half-time but after great work by Goldie he failed to give a scoring pass to the supporting Simpson and the sides turned at 17-0.

Unhappy coaches let their feelings be known at half-time and Dalziel raised their game.

On 45 minutes a catch and drive from a lineout saw Simmonds score the bonus-point try, converted by Simpson.

Five minutes later they scored again when Ross McAulay went over after some excellent forward play, with Simpson again tagging the points for a 31-0 lead.

Although the game was clearly won by this point, Annan were resilient opponents and made Dalziel work hard for their points.

The next score arrived in 60 minutes, however, when Fraser Duguid made a good break. Ball was passed from John Harris to Barry Turnbull and finally to Goldie to crash over for his hat-trick, with Simpson converting for 38-0.

George Sloan grabbed the final score of the evening following a great forward driving maul.

The referee blew for full-time and Dalziel were National 1 champions.

Champagne corks popped and the Motherwell club celebrated in style.

Dalziel will hope to complete their season undefeated when they head for Ellon on Saturday, and the whole club can look forward to a celebration night on May 14 to honour success at all levels.