GREENOCK Wanderers’ second XV ended a winless run stretching back to the end of October when they saw off their counterparts from Dalziel 50-17 at Fort Matilda on Saturday.

The club’s first XV saw their long trip north to face Moray called off late on Friday afternoon after it became obvious to all parties – and to the bus hire company – that it would be impossible to get to Elgin and back safely due to the damage caused across Scotland by Storm Eowyn.

Inverclyde was far from immune from the effects of the bad weather, but a group of club members pitched in to clear debris from the Fort Matilda playing surface to ensure the pitch was playable for an important clash in West Reserve League Division 2.

Wanderers went into the clash a few places behind their Lanarkshire visitors, who started the day in second place behind their Strathendrick counterparts and who were in optimistic mood when they arrived in Inverclyde.

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But all the smiles were being worn in the Wanderers camp as the home side stamped their authority on affairs early on before pulling away in the final stages.

Wanderers’ early dominance was rewarded by tries from Ryan Ellis, Charlie Baxter and Olochinn, but their advantage was whittled away somewhat as the inverval approached, with Dalziel scoring two tries late in the half, first after a forwards’ drive over the line and then after seizing on a poor pass by the hosts.

Wanderers, though, were determined not to let the good work of the opening stages go to waste, and Leigh Tyley crossed the whitewash right on half-time to send the home side into the break 24-12 in front.

The skill level may not have been international class, but there was plenty in the end-to-end action to keep the large crowd’s mind off the very cold conditions.

Wanderers had another spell of dominance early in the second half, with tries from Callum Stewart and two by Duddy extending the hosts’ advantage.

Changes were made by the home side to give some first XV players some game time, but the tactic backfired somewhat as there was no organisation to their play, giving Dalziel the opportunity to score a third try.

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But with Wanderers still enjoying a healthy advantage, the score came too late to change the outcome of the match, and it was left to Jack McDaid, co-captain of the hosts’ first XV, to finish the scoring with a short drive over the line, completing the second team's first victory since they edged out Strathendrick 2 back on October 26.

The second XV now have 26 points from their 11 league matches so far, with their next match being away to GU Hills on Saturday, February 8.

While Wanderers' first XV - or most of them, at any rate - were idle on Saturday, three games in National 4 did beat the weather, with leaders Strathmore seeing off Whitecraigs and second-top Ardrossan Accies enjoying a comfortable win at home to Hamilton; the day's other match, between Dunfermline and Linlithgow, ended in a 29-29 draw.

This weekend sees the start of the Six Nations Championship and is therefore a blank weekend for the Wanderers’ men’s teams; the first XV are also back in action on February 8, when they play host at Fort Matilda to a Stewartry side who are just one place above the Greenock men in what is already looking like a must-win match.

Greenock Wanderers’ club sponsors are MMSEARCH; the ladies and girls sponsors are Straps of Gourock and Brow House Cosmetics.