On a beautiful afternoon the Mark Cheyne Memorial Trophy game started with both teams paying tribute to the brother of inspirational prop and Dyce stalwart Nicky Cheyne with a minutes silence.

The 1st half saw Dyce immediately on the attack, and under pressure, Fraserburgh conceded a penalty in front of the posts. Dyce were unable to capitalise as the kick attempt drifted left of the uprights. The game continued at a frenetic pace, with line breaks from both teams snuffed out by scrambling defence. Dyce received a "final warning" after 3 different high tackles which lead to a series of penalties pinning them inside their 22m.

The territory battle continued, with play going end-to-end for most of the first half until Dyce found themselves short of defenders on one side. Fraserburgh exploited the overlap to score, then converted to go 7-0 up at the break.

HT: Dyce RFC 0 - 7 Fraserburgh RFC

Dyce started the second half with an a barnstorming downhill run from the kick-off by No. 8 Graeme Lowe, putting Dyce on the front foot. With Fraserburgh defenders repelling the forward's momentum the ball was spun wide through the hands by Dyce, and Craig Phillip was able to draw the last defender to send Gregg Jack dancing down the touch-line and round closer to the posts to score a well-worked team try. Gregg Jack converted his own try in the 45th minute.

Scrums were an even, albeit messy contest with wins against the feed for both sides, but a faltering line-out meant Dyce were unable capitalise on penalties that were putting them deep in Fraserburgh territory. Fraserburgh then built their own pressure, finding space out wide to make meters through a Dyce defence that was again guilty of not taking the attacking team round the angles. A fortunate Fraserburgh drop saw the play returning to a penalty for a no-arms tackle about 25 meters out. Fraserburgh missed the penalty attempt.

Fraserburgh were unable to secure the long 22 drop-out and Dyce returned to Fraserburgh territory, winning a breakdown penalty that saw Gregg Jack's well struck attempt drift into the near upright leaving the scores locked at 7 a-piece.

Keeping the ball in hand after the 22 drop-out Dyce build more pressure as half-back Andrew Clarke fed big Dyce ball runners one off the ruck. Pressure built and after some strong pick-and-go's from the forwards, the ball was fed quickly to the backs and inside centre Shea Brown backed himself to beat two well-positioned defenders on an unstoppable burst to the line in the 60th minute. Gregg Jack converted.

Fraserburgh answered back swiftly, pinning Dyce into their own half off the kick-off and building momentum before sending one of their own backs down the side line and under the posts at the other end. The try was converted to lock up the scores with 5 minutes to play.

From the kick-off Dyce won a scrum from a handling error and looked to find the winning points, retaining possession through several phases. The ball was fed through the backs in search of another overlap or line break but play was halted when fly half Rob Haden was taken out with what was ruled as a late shoulder charge by the Fraserburgh inside centre. The Fraserburgh man was yellow carded & sent to the side-line for what would be the remainder of the game. With less than 10 minutes on the clock for either team to get a result, Dyce were unable to exploit the one man advantage. Some desperate defence from both sides saw the clock out, and the spoils of Mark Cheyne Memorial Trophy shared.

FT: Dyce RFC 14 - 14 Fraserburgh RFC

MOTM: Andrew Clarke
DOTD: Edmund Barnard

With no match next week, we welcome you to support us pitch-side again on Saturday 5th May where we host Moray 2nd XV with a 3pm KO.

#MonTheDyce