KRFC v DALZIEL 14-9-2024 report by Bill Barnaby
Last Saturday the Kilmarnock 1st XV faced on paper their toughest opponents to date Dalziel.
The steel men had no answer as the Killie team recorded what might be a club record with an emphatic win 104-0 played in wet and windy conditions.
The visitors kicked-off into the wind and held possession winning a penalty with a skewed kick giving them a lineout on the home twenty- two. Kilmarnock soon gained possession and moved into the opposition twenty-two with Craig McWhirter kicking to touch for a Kilmarnock lineout. The catch and drive was made and captain Craig Sheppard took the ball and charged over from ten metres below the posts. Josh Cooper converted 7-0 after seven minutes.
Moments after the restart centre Robbie Paxton eluded several tacklers to score which was followed by a Kilmarnock attack by Andrew Paxton to win a penalty. Quick as you like through the halfbacks and Allan Spiers scored below the posts. Josh Cooper converted both tries Kilmarnock ahead 21-0 after twelve minutes.
There was no respite after Calum Smith set up an attack and the second phase move saw Ross Murray go over for another converted try. 28-0.
There followed a little bit of resistance from the visitors with Kilmarnock second row Jonathan Goodlet taking a massive hit from the tighthead prop and promptly tapped him on the back in a show of appreciation. Ouch!!! Dalziel had a good spell of play with Kilmarnock coping in defence with no real threat to their goal line. Craig McWhirter launched a siege gun kick downfield to force a goal line drop out which was taken by Ross Murray who was tackled and from the ruck, Kilmarnock won a penalty. From the resulting lineout number eight Calum Smith rotated in a fashion reminiscent of Brian “Hippo” Steven to score. Ross Murray held up the ball as Josh Cooper converted 35-0.
The restart kick failed to travel ten metres. Kilmarnock had two attempts at the set piece with wing forward Ross Murray penalised for a blatant hand on the ball with a loud roar from the home crowd.
Morton Sinclair was replaced by Ewan Callaghan.
Dalziel’s lineout in the Killie twenty-two was won and the visitors were forced into touch.
Kilmarnock won their ball, and the catch and drive allowed Craig McWhirter to kick downfield for a Dalziel lineout. Ross Murray stole the put in and Craig McWhirter passed to Ryan Andrews on his own twenty-two line who powered through two tacklers and raced seventy metres to score below the post. Cooper added the conversion 42-0.

Ewan Callaghan took the restart ball and leaned into two tacklers and went to ground with Ryan Andrews knocking on. The Killie pack disrupted the Dalziel scrum and Andrew Paxton broke to set up another attack. The forwards and backs combined, and a looping pass bounced off the ground and found speeding winger Scott McDowall who ran in from twenty-five metres for a try. No touchline conversion 47-0.
Moments later Robbie Colman made a break of some forty metres and selflessly passed to Scott McDowall, but the pass went astray. The half ended with Kilmarnock already out of site score wise and ran off to the changing room for a half time lecture.
Kilmarnock kicked off into a strong wind and Dalziel knocked on with Kilmarnock kicking the loose ball ahead for a lineout deep in the Dalziel twenty-two. Dominant in the lineout and two phases of attack by Sheppard and Callaghan, Josh Cooper switched direction and Ryan Andrews beat two defenders for another try. No conversion 52-0. The half continued with the customary substitutions with Jonathan Goodlet replaced by Taylor McHarg and Niall Murphy replaced by Adam Roy.
A downfield kick by Dalziel was fielded by Scott McDowall and his long pass was collected by Robbie Colman who raced forty metres with Ross Murray backing up and passing to Craig Sheppard who broke through the Dalziel defence to score under the post. Cooper converted 59-0.
The restart kick saw Taylor McHarg collide with the young Dalziel open side forward who got to his feet and in delayed action fell to the ground but recovered. Kilmarnock continued to attack and from a backline move Andrew Paxton’s kick ahead despite a slightly late tackle was fumbled by the full-back with Ryan Andrews on hand who picked up and went over for his hat trick try. Josh Cooper converted 66-0 after fifteen minutes.
Victor Murray replaced Ewan Callaghan in the front row.
Murray secured the restart ball, and the Killie forwards broke through a break by Calum Smith who linked with Scott McDowall back to Smith inside the visitors twenty-two.
The rain eased and the wind dropped as Kilmarnock were encamped in Dalziel territory with the visitors kicking to safety. From the lineout Josh Cooper knocked on for a scrum. The Killie pack were in unison as they pushed Dalziel off the ball, Calum Smith broke up the blind side with Josh Cooper collecting his pass and going over in the corner for a try. No conversion 71-0.
The restart was taken by Calum Smith who burst through the first line of defence and from the ruck the ball was swiftly moved and a kick ahead by Craig McWhirter was chased by Ryan Andrews in turn kicking ahead and collected by a support player outside to Ross Murray for a try. Josh Cooper slotted the conversion with coach McKenzie Pearce encouraging his players for more. 78-0.
Dalziel applied a little pressure after the restart and won a penalty with a line out in the Kilmarnock twenty-two
Archie Jackson replaced Allan Spiers followed by Spiers replacing Robbie Paxton with brother Gregor stripped but not fielded. The visitors won there throw in but were pushed backwards and into touch. Kilmarnock tried to run out of defence and were turned over with Dalziel mounting a couple of attacks and a maul was held up giving Kilmarnock a scrum ten metres from their own line. The Dalziel pack pushed Killie backwards forcing Calum Smith to pick up, he passed to Craig McWhirter onto Scott McDowall who raced to the halfway line then Josh Cooper who was tackled on the opposition ten metre line.The ruck ball was secured and with good hands passed to Alan Spiers to Robbie Colman who made a twenty metre run passing to Ryan Andrews for his fourth try. Josh Cooper converted 85-0
William”Wilkie” Farquhar was replaced after seventy minutes by Jonathan Goodlet.
Calum Smith collected the restart and in typical fashion burst through a couple of tackles into the opposition half, the ball was recycled and swiftly out the backline with Ross Murray taking a ball thirty metres out and dummying a defender to score his hat trick try. Josh Cooper converted 92-0.
Victor Murray with his back to the opposition dropped the ball and a scrum given to Dalziel much to the displeasure of the home crowd. Dalziel won their scrum and ventured into Killie territory and from a penalty won a five-metre lineout.
The overthrow was picked up at the tail by Ryan Andrews who broke with Taylor McHarg making further ground. The ruck ball was won, and Craig McWhirter kicked to the halfway line. The visitor’s lineout was won, and two backline moves faltered when they were turned over in midfield. Kilmarnock forwards and backs linked and eventually Allan Spiers eluded three defenders and went over for a try. Josh Cooper converted to make the score 99-0.
Almost full time and Jonathan Goodlet broke but his pass was knocked on and Dalziel played the ball and after three phases gave away a penalty on the halfway line. The tap penalty was taken by Calum Smith and Kilmarnock’s backline moved the ball to the far touchline then back inside and switched again into the Dalziel twenty-two with Taylor McHarg leading the charge. The Killie forwards won the ruck ball and out the backline with Ryan Andrews popping up in the centre and passing to Allan Spiers who ran past two defenders to score his hat trick and Kilmarnock’s final try. Josh Cooper’s final conversion in the pouring rain was wide leaving Kilmarnock winners 104-0.

The teams exchanged handshakes as is normal and the post-match huddle formed in the rain.
Coach McKenzie Pearce said, ”That was a big milestone for the club, keep it going for every club will look at that score. The first half we lacked aggression but that was borne out in the second half.” Mentioning several players efforts he named Allan Spiers Man of the Match. Fellow coach Gregor Paxton added “ Let’s get better, do it every week”

A team photograph was taken for the history books which will need researching in respect of record scores.
A game to be forgotten by Dalziel and one to be remembered by Kilmarnock players and supporters.
Josh Cooper’s tally twelve conversions and one try equals 29 points. Same again Josh.

The 2nd XV travelled to Burnbrae where they put in a gutsy performance but lost 45-15 to West of Scotland.
The next game for the Kilmarnock 1st XV will be at Torrance House on Saturday 21st September where they will face East Kilbride Kick-off 3.00pm whilst the 2ndXV will be at Bellsland to face Allan Glen’s kick-off 3.00pm

Be there and support your local team.

Bill Barnaby
07719-567-401