The current Dyce RFC XV took to the field today with a scratch Dyce "Old Boys” XV to battle it out in what was a tight fought game at central park in the club's final pre-season match ahead of the 2018-19 season.

The "strongest returning contingent" of ex-Dyce players, according to Club President Paul Williamson, appeared at the changing room doors, with attendees from afar as Caithness, Glasgow, Ireland and Norway. One individual also pulled out all the stops to appear from Edzell.

The match was given the status of the club's memorial match for season; the Mark Cheyne Memorial trophy awaited the winners and a minutes silence was held before kick-off.

Photo by Elle Haden

The match saw the OBs kick off downhill following the referee's whistle amidst blustery but bright conditions at Central Park. The start off the game saw good phase play from the current Dyce team in its own half after receiving from the KO. with the early scrum exchanges being dominated by the OBs, possession was soon with them; the OB's attacking platform led to Callum Hill managing to wriggle free of a tackle, break the line and touch the ball down just left off the post’s for the first try off the game. With the Matt Hayman converting, Dyce then kicked off up the pitch. The chip'n'chase tactics of the visitors, well executed by #'s 9 & 10, were belying a conventional scratch-team methodology which kept the Dyce team pinned back in their own territory. It wasn’t long before the old boys were back down in Dyce’s 22. A cheeky shortened lineout saw ex-captain Paul Robertson catch the ball beyond the 15m line and power his way over through last ditch Dyce defense to cross the whitewash. Hayman, playing at his customary #9 position, easily slotted the extras.

Jack Munro, making his Dyce debut who sadly came off injured following the OB's try, led to the introduction of Byron Stirton in the second row. The man mountain quickly seized his chance when he received the ball after a turnover in the centre of the park, and ran half of the pitch leaving OBs players scattered across the grass to dot the ball down under the posts. The conversion was one to forget for Dyce fly half David Hay, who sliced his attempt wide when it seemed harder to miss than score.

Directly from the following restart a free flowing attack from the boys in blue led to another try under the posts. Dyce’s Andrew Clarke broke the line after a customary Graeme Lowe offload, and passed to Gregg Jack who ran a good length of the pitch using his quick feet to manoeuvre around the Old Boys defence; the trademark hand-off duely sat down the covering full back who missed their tackle. Hay managing this time not to balls up the easy extras.

The Old Boys however had the last laugh of the frantic and entertaining first half after soaking up a period of Dyce pressure. Marching down the pitch after a number of phases saw the hoops of the OB's strike from within 10m of the Dyce try line as Mike Taylor, playing in his customary fly half position, roll back the years to bury under the Dyce defenders to score beneath the posts. The old boys went on to score another try, this time Mike Taylor providing the assist in the form of a bounce pass to Centre (Jonny Scott) who scooped up the pass and managed the run in to score from short range.

HT: Dyce RFC 19:28 Dyce RFC OBs

The first half was close run affair and the theme continued into the second period much the same. A raft of subs were brought on following the interval which saw Fraser Stevenson take to the pitch for the first time in several years following a shoulder injury layoff.

Hooker Andrew Clarke was making some good runs and covering a lot of distance with the downhill slope of the pitch. With good defence form both sides, lots off crash balls and big hits made for good viewing for the supporters. Dyce worked themselves back “in the old boys” 22 mid way through the second half where a pass from David Hay unlocked the visitors defence allowing Callum Robertson (sponsored by SNAP sponsorship) to target a gap in the defending line and exploit the space and cross the whitewash.

With David Hay kicking superbly for possession Dyce was putting pressure on the old boys. The old boys returned with phases and big hits before shipping the ball out wide and scoring another try through Captain Paul Robertson.

Despite their best efforts, Dyce were unable to claw back any further ground on the OB's lead; an attempt from David Hay in the dying moments of the match to stretch out and score was thwarted as he knocked on in the act of scoring. As the final whistle went the scenes of the victorious Old Boys showed how much they valued clinging onto victory.

FT: Dyce RFC 26:35 Dyce RFC OBs

Photo by Mystie Duthie

In a really close, entertaining game of rugby the Old Boys manged win the Mark Cheyne memorial trophy. Shortly after the final whistle was blown at Central Park, both teams and the many supporters celebrated pitchside before heading back to The New Greentrees, the home of Dyce Rugby for some food and some well earned beers. Thank you to everyone who came along to support both teams.

Photo by Phil Horsfall

MoTM:
Andrew Clarke (Dyce)
Callum Hill (Old boys)

DoTD:
Callum Robertson (Dyce, SNAP sponsorship)
Jonny Scott (Old boys)

Dyce RFC get their season underway next weekend with another home match against Tennant's Caledonia League 1 side Banff RFC in the Referee's Regional Cup (pool 3) on Saturday 1st Sept with kick off at 3pm. We'd love to see you down on the sidelines supporting us!

Mon The Dyce!