Biggar Rugby Club entertain East Kilbride and Dalziel in tournament

Aug 12 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

BIGGAR Rugby Club entertained Lanarkshire sides East Kilbride and Dalziel on Saturday in a pre-season festival.

It was intended for four teams to compete in the tournament but first Stewartry and then Dunfermline were forced to withdraw, meaning all teams played two games.

Dalziel and East Kilbride took to the field first, the Motherwell side preparing for life in Premier 3 for the first time.

Dalziel coach David Wilson had to contend with a number of call-offs but they still managed to take a sizeable squad to Hartreemill, in sharp contrast to East Kilbride, who had struggled to get a side together due to unavailability and injury.

Veteran scrum-half Fraser Stott was the chief organiser, however, and despite his years put in a good shift.

The game saw EK under the cosh for long periods and it was no surprise that Dalziel ran out winners by three tries to nil, with Craig Simmonds, Gillon Duguid and John Harris crossing for tries, although Harris failed to convert any.

A youthful Biggar then took on EK and dominated the game. With guidance from experienced Alistair Browning and Murray Thompson, the young side ran in tries from Bob Aitken (2), Kevin Anderson and Richard Peacock. Craig Parker converted two for a 24-0 final score.

The final game, therefore, was between Dalziel and Biggar. The Motherwell side came storming out of the traps and took the game to their hosts from the outset.

Biggar conceded three tries, with John Goldie crossing for two and scrum-half Ross Donnachie adding another, with Harris converting for a 17-0 lead.

Biggar crept back into the game, with Douglas Notman, Scott Cameron and Alistair Browning scoring tries, with Parker and Notman kicking conversions for a slender home win.

Biggar, who have appointed David Reive as their new captain, face Cartha Queen’s Park in their final pre-season match at Hartreemill on Saturday (3pm).