Allan Massie: Edinburgh and Glasgow hurt by development nature of teams

Published on Friday 19 December 2008 21:10

SO ANOTHER Heineken Cup campaign is effectively over for Edinburgh and Glasgow, even though there remain two matches to be played. It's disappointing of course, but one has to accept that our two pro teams are at a significant disadvantage. In one sense Edinburgh are unique: the only club in the competition to field a match squad all 22 of whose members are eligible to play for the country in which the club is based. Many approve of this. It means that Scottish players are being tested at a

With only two teams and no prospect of a third, we are trapped in a vicious circle. Import foreigners and promising home players are sidelined. Play without them and we are at a disadvantage. There is no quick way out. Certainly, in the present climate, there is little chance of significant investment from beyond the game. So we must make the best of our limited resources and accept that, to some extent, Edinburgh and Glasgow must be seen as development clubs for the national side.

Meanwhile, Philiphaugh saw another remarkable home performance last week. I don't think that Selkirk have ever before beaten Hawick by four tries to none. They were brilliant tries too, none better than the second which was straight out of the coaching manual: clean ball from the top of the line-out, a long pass from scrum-half Michael McVie to his fly-half Gavin Craig, who transferred it quickly to Alex Dunbar. The 18-year-old centre drew his man and passed to the young left-wing Lee Jones coming with lovely timing into the line from the blindside at top speed and running into space. He still had twenty yards or so to go, but made it without a hand being laid on him. Perfect.

Hawick may be struggling, indeed they are evidently short of confidence. Nevertheless they had most of the possession, perhaps three-quarters of it, enough to win a match against a less resolute defence. But the Selkirk tackling in mid-field was tremendous, with Ross Armstrong, himself a Hawick exile, outstanding. As Rodney Pow, former Selkirk full-back and last season's coach, observed: "Defence wins matches – and World Cups." Very true, but it helps when you can score tries like the two from Lee Jones, a characteristic individual effort from his own 22 by Fraser Harkness, and the first, a cut-through, worthy of John Rutherford in his prime, from Gavin Craig. Young Craig's kicking still leaves much to be desired, but there cannot be a better running (and tackling) fly-half in Scottish club rugby.

As for Hawick they are now in real trouble, and can't rely on other results to save them from being relegated for the first time ever. In the early weeks of the season they were losing matches narrowly, but their last three league games have seen a tally of points for – 10, points against – 90, which is dire. On Saturday they ran out of ideas, though not of effort, long before the final whistle. Even the richly talented Rory Hutton, who had a great match against Selkirk in September, had a shocker, apart from one lovely break. Time and again he took the wrong option – and then executed it badly.

Few in the Borders – only those sad folk who take pleasure in the misfortune of others – would like to see Hawick go down, even though we have all suffered at their hands over the years. Apart from anything else, Border derbies are good for the gates; there was a crowd of at least 1,500 at Philiphaugh on Saturday. But they are going to have to show resolution, and recover some of their lost flair and spirit, if they are to escape the drop. Evidently the club is in turmoil, something the players on the field must try to forget. The old structure which saw Hawick able to draw on the other clubs in the town is apparently fractured. These now have ambitions of their own, with Hawick YM, for instance, looking to be promoted to the First Division of the National Leagues. Indeed, the sour joke is that another couple of seasons like the present might see Hawick on the way down having to play the YM on the way up. Barely thinkable.

2008 has been perhaps the most remarkable year in Selkirk's history. Ayr deservedly look to have wrapped up the championship. But my thoughts at least are turning to the Cup. With the right draw, and a couple of home matches, a Murrayfield final beckons tantalisingly. And there's also the Border League title to be defended.

Roll on 2009...