Tennent's West One

IRVINE 34

DALZIEL 9

A GREY September day welcomed Dalziel back to Marress after a few years in National Three.

They were hit by an Irvine blitz in the first 20 minutes, which created the first pushover try for Irvine, Ruchin Filander touching down after a show of the power of the Irvine pack that has become so usual this season. Sam Gray failed with the conversion but made up for it with a penalty in 22 minutes, which put Irvine 8-0 ahead.

Dalziel then came back into the game with strong attacks for most of the rest of the half, but Irvine’s defence weathered the storm and, just on half-time, drove to within a few metres of the visitors’ line. This time it was Ross Crawford who spun of the back of the maul to score, converted by Gray. Irvine led 15-0 at the half.

Clearly the Dalziel coach had said some harsh words at the half-time break, and the Lanarkshire men came out fighting in the second half. Their 20 minutes of ascendancy were rewarded by three penalties, but the Irvine try line was not breached.

As the game waned, the Irvine forwards re-asserted their dominance and it was no surprise in 72 minutes when some very fancy interplay by the forwards, showing ball skills usually seen in the backs, led to another Campbell try. Unfortunately it went unconverted but within four minutes, another forward drive led to Nugent crashing over. This time Gray converted. Finally, on the point of no side, another scrum drive allowed Filander to add to his tally of scores, again converted by Gray.

The 34-9 score gave Irvine another bonus point win and takes them up to fourth in the table.

Unfortunately, the 2nd XV's match against Carrick was called off since there was no referee available. This week the 1st XV visit Cambuslang, while the seconds take the short trip up the coast to play Ardrossan Accies.