Dyce hit the road on GW2 to head up the A96 to league leaders and likely title challengers Craig Dunain. In overcast and windy conditions at their new Inverness High School home an optimistic Dyce squad of 22, after giving Peterhead a run for their money the week prior, took to the field after a shortened warm up.

Playing into the strong wind in the first half, Dyce started slow with handling errors when put under pressure from a ICD team who were robust up front. With the hosts using a podded system seeking to target the fringes of the rucks, the first up Dyce tackles were low and hard repelling attack after attack. The unfortunate CJ Thomson had to be carried off the pitch after ICD’s second row decided to defy the laws of rugby, tackling feet first and kicking the poor soul. It was so agricultural even Roy Keane would’ve been proud.

After soaking up significant pressure within the Dyce 22m for a period of time, Dyce's offense started to fire with Craig Philip and Declan Coutts causing problems for the ICD defence as the visitors began to find gaps in a leaky backline with clean line breaks from far out only for lack of support and silly mistakes preventing them from scoring.

At the other end of the pitch, Craig Dunain were using big bodies to squeeze in a try, eventually scoring on the half hour mark from short range through their tighthead prop. The straight forward conversion was missed by #10 in the gusty conditions.

Despite being unable to clear the lines effectively due to the strong wind Dyce, managed to keep the score down giving them a decent chance to complete a comeback in the second 40.

HT: Inverness Craig Dunain RFC 5-0 Dyce RFC

After a big a half-time talk, Dyce went into the second half with confidence and the wind behind them. Continuing to break the wide open ICD back line, it wasn’t until the 52nd minute where Craig Philip went into score Dyce’s first try, after several phases deep in the host's 22. Crashing back against the play he crashed through three tackles to score on the wide right. Without a kicking tee, David Hay's drop kick conversion narrowly missed.

With the touch paper lit, Dyce started to run riot as confidence flooded through the team. Straight from the kick off, Craig Philip caught, pirouetted away from the first tackle and shrugged off one more before burning 50m down the sideline to setup another attack. The backs and forwards were linking beautifully in the midfield with Graeme Lowe being too much for ICD centres. Nearly 20 minutes after scoring his first, Craig Philips scored his second of the game with a typically direct run before crossing the whitewash. Dyce's third try was less convincing and more controversial; a kick through resulted in a bit of pinball beneath the home side's posts with substitute Cameron Moore coming up with the ball to dot down in a melee of bodies. Despite ICD protests of a knock-on in the pinball phase the referee awarded the score to make it 5 - 19.

Tim Haden, making a guest appearance from London, was introduced into the fray and was able to show off his athleticism with some powerful running in the centres. With injured brother and also centre Rob Haden out injured, we still haven't figured out what New Zealander families feed their kids to turn them into skillful backs!

After an impressive showing from Declan Coutts in the centre, Duncan Scott had much to live up when taking his place on the pitch. It was however short lived. Scott, who has been struggling with an ankle injury throughout the week came on, crashed the ball into the defence and duly left the field again. Literally 30 seconds on the field- a heroic act to say the least.

An electric 15 minutes from Dyce were rounded off when Cameron Moore snaffled his second try of the match with three Dyce players following through on a grubber kick to pressure the Craig Dunain 15 into an error and let Moore waltz in unopposed from 15m out to cap a fine cameo appearance and make the score 5 - 26. Dyce should’ve scored more tries however, with the side much improved and continuing its progression from last year with the team now starting to gel. Inverness had the last say in the game however as a penalty was conceded by Dyce on their opponent's 22m line. As the visitors marked the nearside touchline the Dunain players taped and went; some great support and link up play saw the full back running the full length of the field to burn past two Dyce players to the delight of the home fans. With the final kick of the match the conversion was put wide as the Dyce players charged towards the kicker.

With the final whistle sounding the delight of the Dyce players was plain to hear. This was a big scalp taken on the road.

FT: Inverness Craig Dunain RFC 10 - 26 Dyce RFC

MoTM: Craig Philip
DoTD: Duncan Scott

It was a fun bus ride home.

Dyce travel to Aberdeen Wanderers 2nd XV at Groats Road next weekend in GW3 of the Tennent's Caledonia League North 4 seeking to extend their good form and come away with another victory to avenge their away defeat there last season. KO is 3pm and we hope you can join us for another great game of rugby.

Mon The Dyce!