KRFC 44 v DALZIEL 27

Last Saturday Kilmarnock faced the steelmen from Motherwell Dalziel at Bellsland and ran out winners by 44-27. From the kick-off Kilmarnock lost then won a lineout and the ball was kicked to and fro with Dalziel moving the ball and won a penalty for a high tackle which was converted from thirty-five metres to take a 3-0 lead.

Two further penalties in as many minutes put Kilmarnock under pressure however from a scrum a loose pass by Dalziel was picked up by centre Robbie Colman who shimmied and passed to winger Chris Milligan who raced in from thirty-five metres with defenders in his wake for the opening try. Conversion by Ethan MacIsaac. 7-3 the score.

Ryan Andrews fielded the restart kick and passed to number eight Ross Murray who broke passing to Craig McWhirter who kicked into the Dalziel half. Sean McCafferty won the lineout throw in to release the threequarters with prop Victor Murray making a surging run followed by captain Craig Shepperd taking the ball and winning a penalty for a high tackle. Ethan MacIsaac converted from thirty-four metres to stretch the lead 10-3 after ten minutes.

Kilmarnock soon lost a lineout with Dalziel making a catch and drive forcing Kilmarnock backwards followed by a kick ahead which was fielded by MacIsaac onto Morton Sinclair who linked with Craig Shepperd to win another penalty. MacIsaac’s kick found touch in the opposition twenty-two. Kilmarnock won the ball and drove twenty metres for a push over try scored by Ross Murray and a narrowly missed conversion. 15-3 midway through the half.

Dalziel won a scrum as Ryan Andrews knocked on at the restart. The Kilmarnock set piece was penalised and a penalty converted to narrow the margin 15-6.

Kilmarnock responded by pinning Dalziel in their own half making attacks through the forwards and backs and countering any Dalziel moves into home territory. Kilmarnock won a penalty in midfield for offside followed by another for “Chatting “. A lineout in the Dalziel twenty-two was won and two carries by the Kilmarnock forwards followed with a pass to Chris Milligan saw the winger score from short range. The conversion was good, Kilmarnock 22-6 ahead after twenty-eight minutes.

The teams shared possession and soon Dalziel had the upper hand with Kilmarnock conceding a couple of penalties. A break by the Dalziel inside centre led to a mini hand-bag melee spicing up the game. Dalziel took a tap and go then released the ball to a three quarter who burst the home defence for a try below the posts. The conversion narrowed the gap 22-13.

Dalziel fielded and attacked but were turned over by Kilmarnock and Ethan MacIsaac broke through the defence but dropped the ball with the referee pulling back play for a Kilmarnock penalty. Kilmarnock declined to kick at goal and instead kicked to the corner. The catch and drive was made but bundled into touch and from their lineout Dalziel kicked dead to end the half.

The break saw prop Ewan Callaghan replaced by Jordan Duncan. Kilmarnock kicked off with the setting sun behind them and a slight breeze in their faces. Kilmarnock started well with the forwards progressing, winning ruck ball and the backline trying to cross the gain line. A clearance kick by Ethan MacIsaac failed to find touch and a siege gun kick out of defence pushed Kilmarnock back into their twenty-two for a Dalziel lineout. The catch and drive was executed and somehow Jordan Duncan emerged with the ball and the ball passed to Robbie Colman who ran seventy metres before he was caught ten metres short of the goal line. Backup was soon there and from the ruck Dalziel were penalised and a yellow card shown to the fullback. A tap and go was taken with Sean McCafferty breaching the defence, two rucks later Kilmarnock were given another penalty and Ryan Andrews wasted no time taking a quick tap and crashed over from short range for the fourth bonus point try. No conversion 27-13 the score with eight minutes of the half played.

The sun died at the restart and Dalziel were further hampered as a second player was yellow carded for deliberately playing the ball on the ground. Kilmarnock took advantage applied pressure and soon scored a fifth try despite a poor pass as Robbie Colman collected on the twenty-two and strolled through the defence. Ethan MacIsaac kicked the conversion. Kilmarnock’s lead stretched to 34-13.

From the restart Kilmarnock were turned over and a penalty for Dalziel allowed them to kick to the corner deep inside the home twenty-two.
The catch and drive was made and from twelve metres out Dalziel drove and scored a converted try. Score 34-20 after eighteen minutes of the half.

The sides gave away penalties with Dalziel handily running down the clock and pressed into Kilmarnock territory until a penalty kick to touch by MacIsaac was chased and fly hacked on by winger Ewan Caldwell who was unlucky not to pick up with only one Dalziel player to beat.
Back to a full complement, Dalziel from a penalty kicked into the Kilmarnock twenty for a lineout but were then penalised for offside. Ryan Andrews took Dalziel by surprise, from his tap and go he ran forty metres passing to Craig McWhirter who was tackled, and from the ruck Ryan Andrews eye-balled winger Chris Milligan and a box kick from the scrum half bounced favourably and was picked up just inside the touch and goal line for the winger to score. The touchline conversion was missed Kilmarnock 39-20 ahead.

Substitutions were made with Mathew Tame and Craig Hunter taking the field to replace Victor Murray and Jonathan Goodlet. Moments later a break by Ross Murray backed up by Jordan Duncan had the Ladies in the crowd on the edge of their seats. Fuelled by Prosecco they screamed their delight. John Brown and Ewan Caldwell returned in place of Morton Sinclair and Robbie Colman for a well-earned rest. Kilmarnock’s next move saw an interception spoiled by a knock on. Dalziel soon won back possession and kicked long into the Kilmarnock half with the home side winning a scrum from a charged down kick. The ball popped out the blind side of the scrum and the Dalziel scrum half made ground. Dalziel shipped the ball to their stand-off who broke through a number of tackles and passed to a backing up player for a try and the drop goal conversion was made. Score 39-27 with thirteen minutes remaining.

Kilmarnock retained possession from the restart and mounted several attacks with a Craig McWhirter kick ahead chased by Mathew Tame who knocked on with the line in sight. Dalziel had the put in and a mighty shove by the Killie pack was rewarded with a try as Ryan Andrews beat his opposite number to touch down, much to the delight of the pack. No conversion score 44-27.

From the restart Dalziel knocked on and from the scrum the Kilmarnock backline had one final move with a looping pass from Robbie Paxton finding Chris Milligan on the wing who sped twenty-five metres to set up a ruck ruck, one more phase and Kilmarnock won a penalty which Craig Shepperd kicked to touch to end the game.

Coach Stuart Pratt noted that Dalziel should not have scored their tries, we must learn to brush sides away early in the game. Our finishing was good and we have to turn up at training this week in preparation to avenge the early defeat by Annan when we travel south next Saturday.
Asked for his Man of the Match Stuart declined to say.