Heriots 17-24 Dundee: Bonnie side hold on to winning run

Published on Saturday 10 October 2009 19:43

ANOTHER feather was added to the bonnet of 'Bonnie Dundee' as Ian Rankin's Mayfield side strode to a fifth successive win in the Scottish Hydro Premiership against Heriots at Goldenacre yesterday.

In a contest that was both entertaining and thrilling, supporting the view that the Premiership is a quality product, Dundee were sharper, more enterprising and, in the end, perhaps deserving of a bigger margin of victory. Moreover, there was a confidence about this Dundee side that has clearly resulted from a good run of results and, of course, their win over Ayr.

"I think there is a genuine belief within the side, but we know we have to play with the same level of accuracy and intensity if we are to move on from here," said Rankin.

Although it was a collective performance from the Tayside men, there were a number of individual displays that caught the eye, among them scrumhalf Andy Dymock, No.8 Danny Levison and fullback Aubrey Horton.

Dymock, who was an outstanding schoolboy scrumhalf, was forced to ply his trade on the wing for much of the last two seasons, but he looks sharp back in the No.9 shirt.

Levison, too, looks a better player now, his strength, apart from admirable mobility, is his distribution from the back of the scrum, while at fullback Horton looked a quality player whenever he was on the ball.

For Heriots, this does not bode well for the British and Irish Cup. Their play was marred by faulty passing, ponderousness at the breakdown and a propensity to turn over ball.

All the same, Heriots looked lively at the start of the game with a number of good moves frequently spearheaded by prop Alan Dymock, but they merely warmed up Dundee's defensive game.

A break by Harry Duthie that led to a penalty award should have meant points for Dundee but standoff Barry Jones, standing in for the injured Cammy Ferguson, was off target.

Duthie was again the instigator of Dundee's next chance with a smartly taken tap penalty that allowed fullback Horton to glide through for a sensational long-range score, converted by Jones.

Heriots hit back with a try by Chuck Osazuwa, the big lock finishing off a charge down by Jason Hill of Andy Dymock's clearance kick. Skipper Graham Wilson added the extra points and Heriot's were back in the game.

Not for long though. A run by Dundee lock Richie Hawkins sucked in Heriots' defence and when the ball was released there was space out wide for fellow lock and Edinburgh pro Fraser McKenzie to romp over for a converted try.

A close-range try by replacement lock Gavin Broomfield and the conversion by Wilson levelled the scores before Wilson put his side ahead for the first time with a penalty goal.

But this was to be Dundee's day as hooker James Clark finished off great approach work by replacement Matt Smith and Horton to grab his side's third try. Jones banged over the conversion and then finished off a good display with a long-range penalty kick to seal the match for Dundee.

Heriots: J Alston; C Goudie, M Nimmo, G Hogg, C Bruce; G Rutherford, G Wilson; A Dymock, S Burnett, W Blacklock, P O'Connor, C Osazuwa, M Maltman, J Hill, J Syme. Subs used: G Broomfield, O Brown.

Dundee HSFP: A Horton; R Lemon, H Duthie, L Graham, J Fleming; B Jones, A Dymock; N Dymock, J Clark, A Brown, F McKenzie, R Hawkins, S McKee, G Ryan, D Levison. Subs used: R Gray, M Smith.

Scorers Heriots: Tries: Osazuwa, Bloomfield. Cons: Wilson (2). Pen: Wilson. Dundee: Tries: Horton, McKenzie, Clark. Cons: Jones (3). Pen: Wilson.

Referee: J Matthew (Stewart's-Melville).