Dalziel dominant

This was always going to be a tough fixture for Edinburgh, with Dalziel sitting top of National League 1, not having dropped a point this season. They showed this form from the off at Peffermil: a smart interchange from the Dalziel wing and fullback almost gave them an early try, before solid Edinburgh tackling halted the move.

Dalziel took the lead they deserved after 13 minutes. The blindside flanker received the ball from the line out at Edinburgh’s 5 metre line, dodged two incoming tackles and dived over the line. With the conversion missed, Dalziel were back on the attack, and got a second try ten minutes later. The Number 8 intercepted a sloppy University attack, before releasing to the lively fullback, who drew a challenge and left the winger to run in to score. Edinburgh were on the back foot, and were dealt another blow on the half hour mark, when Simpson, having missed both conversions, got himself on the score sheet with Dalziel’s third try of the game.

It was only then that Edinburgh University began the fight back: tackling with more aggression and looking sharper on the ball, the Uni started to make a battle of the game. Edinburgh got a try before the half, after a penalty had been missed, with the open-side flanker putting points on the board for the home side.

It was Dalziel who finished the first half the stronger, though. A poor Edinburgh lineout in their own five metres gave the Dalziel loose-head prop an easy try. With the conversion missed, the score at halftime was 22-5.

The second half, if truth be told, was a scrappy encounter; Edinburgh University looking nervous, Dalziel looking to avoid injury and consolidate their position at the top of the league. Attacks petered out into breakdowns or knock-ons, with no real highlights from either side. As the game drew to a close, the Uni centres looked be linking a little more effectively, and they had their chances to reduce the deficit, thwarted by a resilient away defence. The game was sealed on the 77th minute, when the Edinburgh fullback, who otherwise had a very strong game, showed poor decision making in his own 22. The ball turned over, Dalziel made effective use of their back line, for second row number 4 to power over in the far corner.