Seconds lose first game of the season
Dumfries RFC 2nd XV – 7 Dalziel RFC 2nd XV – 31
In terrible weather the seconds hosted Dalziel from Lanarkshire at a cold, windy and wet Park Farm. The increasing number of call ups, call offs, injuries, work and holiday commitments put some considerable strain on the capacity to field a team. The association with Moffat was put to good use and four of their players, Little, Wennington, Galloway and McGregor were added to the second team squad. Saints welcomed back Ben Hawthorn and Simon Robertson for their first game after recovering from serious injury.
Facing the howling gale the home team battled bravely to stem the continuous onslaught from a fit, youngish and very well drilled Dalziel outfit. Time after time they pressurised the home line. The combined effects of wind and pressure saw the visitors rack up 19 unanswered points through three tries, two of which were converted.
Half time brought relief for the Seconds and they turned their back to the strong wind and using the elements well they set about reducing the deficit. When Eck Sloan crossed for an excellent try, converted by Hawthorn, the home side looked as though they could pull off a great escape.
Continued pressure kept them on the front foot until Dalziel broke from their own 22 and scored their fourth try which they converted. This seemed to knock the stuffing out of the local lads and frustration set in as they chased the game but they couldn’t break down a stubborn, well organised Dalziel team. The final unconverted score came from Dalziel, again on the breakaway to round off the scoring.
The visitors were a fit, well organised outfit who played the conditions better than the home side and through this win leap frog the seconds into second position in the league.
Team: Renwick; Smith; Davidson; Hawthorn; Newport; Burgess; Little; Robertson, Galloway, Stannett, Sloan, Carson, Wennington; Macrae; McAndrew. Replacements Kerr; Leyva; Allan; McGregor.