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Tournament: Friendly

Kickoff: 08/03/2026 @ 14:00

Venue:

Ardencaple Ground, Rhu Road Higher, Helensburgh, , G84 8JR

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MATCH REPORT

Dalziel U13s Deliver Outstanding Comeback Win at Helensburgh

Sunday 8th March 2026
Venue: Helensburgh Rugby and Cricket Club, Ardencaple, Helensburgh
Final Score: Dalziel 35–17 Helensburgh
Squad: 18 players, all playing at least a half Notable Moment: Debut for Tyler

Dalziel U13s travelled to Helensburgh and secured an impressive 35–17 victory, building on last Sunday’s home win over Ardrossan to make it two wins in succession. Conditions set the tone for the afternoon — a smaller‑than‑usual pitch demanded quick reactions and strong contact work, while the soft but playable ground and bright, pleasant weather suited a high‑tempo style of rugby.

Tough Start and Early Pressure
Helensburgh made strong use of the slope and compact pitch in the opening exchanges. Their enormous forward pack dominated early collisions, pushing Dalziel back and crossing for two well‑taken tries to take a 10–0 lead.

Defensive Shift and Smart Adaptation
The early pressure sharpened Dalziel’s focus. Their defensive line delivered far greater aggression and line speed, quickly recognising and shutting down Helensburgh’s tactic of cutting their lineout to unleash a powerful middle‑channel runner. Tackling improved, spacing tightened, and Dalziel began to win vital collisions.

Breakdown Improvement Turns the Tide
With the match played in four quarters, Dalziel used the rest periods well to reset and make adjustments. By the second quarter, their breakdown work had improved significantly. Helensburgh’s early counter‑ruck success faded as their big forwards tired, while Dalziel’s technique and intensity secured fast, clean ball — perfect for applying pressure on the smaller pitch.

Physical Parity in the Middle of the Park
Dalziel also achieved real physical parity in the middle of the park, where Max, Ruaridh, Aaron, Layton, and Kyle refused to give an inch in the tackle. Their commitment in the collisions consistently met Helensburgh’s strong carriers head‑on, preventing front‑foot momentum and ensuring Dalziel stayed competitive in the most demanding part of the pitch.

Strong Ball Carrying and Turnover Threat
Dalziel made excellent gains through the determined carrying of Layton, Kyle, and Archie, all of whom drove the ball into and through contact, giving the team valuable front‑foot momentum to launch attacks. Their willingness to run hard and fight for extra metres repeatedly put Dalziel on the front foot.

Behind them, Fraser was relentless at the breakdown. He was a dog on the floor, snapping up loose ball, capitalising on inaccuracies, and winning multiple turnovers whenever the ball spilled free in the tackle or from wayward passes.

Dalziel Fight Back Through Reme’s Spark
Dalziel’s comeback began with a brilliant individual try from Reme, who went on to earn Man of the Match honours. After several well‑managed phases inside the 22, he stepped through two defenders and scored near the posts.

Alan converted — the first of his flawless 5‑from‑5 performance — closing the gap to 10–7.

Dalziel carried the momentum forward. Reme added a second try, and Angus powered over shortly after for another converted score, completing a superb turnaround and giving Dalziel a 10–21 half‑time lead.

Conditions Favour Dalziel as the Second Half Begins
Turning to play down the hill, Dalziel entered the second half with confidence. The compact pitch and soft ground rewarded their stronger fitness and faster tempo, allowing them to control the rhythm of the game, and create lots of scoring opportunities.

Helensburgh Shift Tactics but Dalziel’s Defence Holds Firm
With their big forwards tiring, Helensburgh adapted their game plan and leaned on their more agile players. Using guile, sharp passing, and clever footwork, they produced several impressive line breaks.

But Dalziel’s scramble defence was outstanding.

Ben, Angus, Reme, and Harry chased back tirelessly to shut down what looked like certain runaway tries. A standout moment came late in the match when Tyler, on debut, produced a superb try‑saving tackle, mirroring the example of his more experienced teammates.

Reme Completes a Four‑Try Performance
Dalziel’s pressure, combined with their resilience in defence, created further scoring chances. Reme added two more tries in the second half, completing a superb four‑try haul. With Alan maintaining his perfect record from the tee, Dalziel established a commanding lead.

Dalziel Could Have Added More
Dalziel might well have added another couple of tries late in the second half. They created excellent opportunities, with Heath and Sam both coming close after breaking the line and finding space, only for the final pass or the final touch to slip away at the crucial moment.

On a wider, firmer pitch, it’s likely Dalziel would have finished off a few more of those promising chances.

Helensburgh Rewarded for Their Effort
To their credit, Helensburgh kept playing with determination. Their persistence and improved handling earned them a deserved late try, a fair reflection of their effort and adaptability throughout the match.

Man of the Match – Reme
Reme contributed enormously to Dalziel’s performance. His four well‑taken and joyfully celebrated tries were a highlight, but his impact went far beyond scoring. He was a match for the biggest Helensburgh forwards in the physical exchanges, tackling strongly and working tirelessly in defence.

A complete, all‑round performance he can be very proud of. now!

Scorers:
Tries - Reme (4), Angus
Conversions - Alan (5)



TEAM

1 Aaron Rennick ( 2 Archie Chilton 3 Kyle Rae 4 Max McRobbie 5 Layton Sneddon 6 Fraser Milne 7 Alan Calder 8 Angus Ferguson 9 Nicolas Kwapis 10 Ruairidh Scott 11 Osereme Ibhadon-Aiwo 12 Harry Dunlop 13 Sam Faulkner 14 Jack Stewart 15 Mason Dowling 16 Heath Mitchell 17 Ben Miller 18 Tyler Cairney

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