On a beautiful January day with the sun shining and the pitch in superb condition, today was a good day to be at New Anniesland and the superb number of supporters who had turn up for todays match were treated to some vintage Accie rugby. It takes two teams, however, to tango and it has to be said that from the kick off Dalziel showed they too wanted to play 15 man rugby.
For the first 30 minutes the two sides battered away at each other, trying to establish the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition. The result was two penalties for Accies, converted by Stewart Gray and one for Dalziel, so something of a stalemate at 6 – 3
The crowd had been increased by a few late comers who obviously brought with them some good Accie karma, for the last 10 minutes of the first half saw some of the most exciting rugby witnessed at New Anniesland for some time. First came a beautiful backs move created from a scrum 10 metres out from the Dalziel line and some slick passing saw Kris Mathie score a well-earned try. Stewart Gray stepped up and with his third successful kick of the afternoon made the score 13 – 3
This brought the crowd to life, the game having been somewhat uneventful up to that point. Dalziel kicked off and the ball sailed out on the full so the players went back for a scrum on half-way. From the scrum, Accie’s outstanding number 8, Ryan Sweeney, pick the ball from the base of the scrum, drew the srcum-half and blindside wing forward and a well-timed pass to scrum half Chris Jubb was then off loaded to Ross Cowan who put on the afterburners and raced 40 metres to the line for a brilliant try that brought the crowd to their feet. The successful conversion by Stewart Gray saw Accies go 17 points clear in the space of two minutes. 20 – 3
Dalziel tried hard to get a try before half time and with some good running and offloading, worked themselves to within 10 metres of Accies line. At that point Dalziel seemed, to most in the stand, to be the most likely to get anything out of the remaining few minutes of the half. As the minutes ticked down there was some staunch defence by Accies which saw them achieve another turnover ball, with quick passing and hard running they broke out of the twenty two and with forwards and backs running terrific support lines the ball was finally passed to Chris Jubb who crossed the whitewash for the third try. The successful conversion saw Accies score 21 unanswered points in 10 minutes of pulsating rugby.

Half time - 27 - 3

Well I do not know what was said to the Dalziel players at half time but they started the second half with real attitude, and with Accies looking a bit shocked, Dalziel’s big and powerful number 8 took the ball 20 metres out and was not going to be stopped. Despite an unsuccessful conversion Dalziel spirits were clearly on the rise and it had given their supporters a reason to be cheerful.. 27 – 8
The game was getting somewhat scrappy as injuries were mounting on both sides and substitutes having to be brought on. In fact Accies ended up with a centre and winger playing as wing forwards. The ball was kicked off into Dalziel’s 22 and before their supporters could really sit back and enjoy their sides first try a couple of fumbles saw Graham Robertson on hand to pick up and carried the ball over the line for the bonus point try. Dalziel’s elation had lasted but a few minutes. The conversion was missed but Accies lead was now 32 – 8
Accies seemed to be finding it difficult the readjust to the changes in personnel and their defensive game became ragged. Dalziel took full advantage of this and a couple of missed tackles and players out of position saw their number 10 run in for a simple try under the posts. Conversion successful and Dalziel must have felt that they were back in the game. 32 – 15
However it was Ross Cowan who once again ignited the Accie supporters and after some good handling, well inside their own half, he went off on a typical mazy run which saw him go passed several defenders and finally round their fullback to score his second try of the day.
A successful conversion by Chris Rhodes saw the score go to 39 – 15
This was a game that took 30 minutes to come alive but when it did it was end to end stuff and it was clearly taking its toll on some of the Dalziel players. A missed tackle inside Accies half allowed the ball to be moved through several players and eventually was collected by the strong running number 8 Ryan Sweeney who romped home from 30 metres out, for a well-deserved try. This was a try which typifies what Accies are all about this season, with well-timed passing, supporting players and strong running from 1 to 15. Conversion by Chris Rhodes successful 44 – 15

With only 5 minutes of the game remaining and both sides tiring the structure of the game became somewhat fragmented. The crowd were expecting the full time whistle to blow and quietly hoping, however, that we could see the 50 point score line reached. The final few minutes of the match saw Accies camped inside the Dalziel 22 and with some really quick thinking; Ross Cowan took a quick tap from a penalty awarded 15 metres from the Dalziel line and romped over to score under the posts. A drop goal conversion by Chris Rhodes saw Accies cross the 50 point mark.
This was a game in which the Accie players were keen to make amends for their poor performance in the first encounter and it has to be said did a very good job of doing just that.

Full-time 52 – 15