Clydebank 2nd XV were the only senior side playing this weekend as they hosted Dalziel in only their 2nd competitive fixture in the league this season at Whitecrook. The 1st XV had a free weekend and the club was buzzing with excitement on a fresh, sunny day that was perfect for running rugby and the boys ran in 4 tries to record a 22-19 bonus point victory.

Clydebank had a nice combination of youth and experience in the side as the veterans included Ronnie McKee, David Smart, Gordon Spence and Graeme Kyle alongside the youthful and energetic Matthew Baxter, Declan Coyle and Jack McCombe amongst others. Bank got off to a great start and opened the scoring within 5 minutes. A lineout 10 meters from Dalziels line on the right led to a strong driving maul that powered over the line with Graeme Kyle in posession of the ball to open the scores. Jack McCombe was unsuccessful with the tricky conversion out wide. Dalziel were not for lying down though as they roared back into the game with some nice offloading in their forwards to breach the line for a converted try to take a slender lead. The first half was a lively one and 5 minutes later the Red and Blacks were back in front. A scrum just inside Clydebanks half led to Kyle picking from No. 8 and breezed past several defenders and fed David Kirkwood. When their was no space to attack Kirkwood dinked over a great chip for the onrushing Sean Smith to kick through and gather the awkward bounce and finish for a great try that McCombe was unlucky not to convert.

Clydebank then upped the pace and got another beauty of a try. Peter Watson, Ronnie McKee and McCombe all combined from half way to put the ball through the hands beating several defenders and Watson threw a peach of an inside pass to free McKee who dotted down for Banks third try. McCombe again narrowly missed the conversion. McKee got another just before half time as Kyle picked from the base of the scrum and was tackled 5 metres short of the line. The ball was quickly recycled and passed to McKee and it was a simple run in for the veteran flank forward. McCombe made no mistake this time with the extras and the bonus point was already secured as the half came to an end.

The 2nd half was a much tighter affair as Dalziel refused to lie down and Clydebank seemed to take their foot off the gas. Both defences were coming out on top as the tries dried up for 20 minutes as both team tussled for posession. It was Dalziel who scored the next try as they used the width of the big pitch at Whitecrook to send their left winger over in the corner that wasn't converted. Bank did not have the posession they enjoyed in the 1st half and were scrapping with the away forwards at the set piece and around the fringes of the breakdown for the ball for much of the half. They also made several changes that seemed to disrupt their rhythm going forward. Dalziel reduced the deficit to only 2 points with 10 minutes to go as their No.8 showed he can be just as dangerous as Kyle had been for the home side when he picked from the base of the scrum and showed good pace to score a try that was converted. Clydebank had the game under control and saw out the last 10 minutes comfortably to record a fine 22-19 win.

Next weeks fixtures see the 2nds playing away to Irvine and the 1st team back in action against Strathaven at home.