In season 1973–74, the Scottish Rugby Union set up competitive leagues and Dalziel HSFP found that they were slotted into National League Division Five (West). In the first season of competition, the club obtained promotion to Division Four and by season 1980-81 they were playing in Division Three. By season 1987–88, Dalziel had moved through the leagues to Division Two and this had confirmed their status as the leading national club in Lanarkshire, also making them one of the top thirty-five clubs in the country. In the same season, the club won the Glasgow and District Knock-out Cup for the very first time.