Bell rings up counters in chase for title and try glory

Published on Friday 28 November 2008 09:04

ACCOUNTANT Stuart Bell is getting plenty of opportunity to test his arithmetic skills with his Heriot's side providing three of the seven leading try-scorers in division one of the Scottish Hydro Electric rugby premiership.

And the 26-year-old is out to play his part in keeping the touchdown tally ticking over when Watsonians are welcomed to Goldenacre tomorrow for a key clash which sees second-placed Heriot's attempt to further close the gap at the top.

Leaders Ayr's defeat at Melrose was the icing on the cake for Bell whose hat-trick in a 43-7 win at Hawick took him to seven tries alongside club-mate Dave McCall and one behind pace-setter Colin Goudie.

"I suppose the ideal scenario for me would be to leapfrog Colin with Heriot's winning but the only thing that really matters is to keep playing in the enjoyable way that is producing good results in order to further pressurise Ayr," said Bell.

His first senior hat-trick certainly earned Stuart bragging rights in a family where younger sister Alison is a Scottish hockey internationalist – but the wing ace reveals he shouldn't even have been playing.

"It was only on the bus journey to the Borders that Jim Thompson was, unfortunately, taken ill and I stepped up."

Now Heriot's seek to avenge an earlier defeat by 'Sonians when Bell was injured and the same applies to a Boroughmuir side who entertain Currie.

However, Currie winger Andy Turnbull warns that his side will be on a high as he tries to play his way back into the Edinburgh professional side.

Speaking at a photocall to promote the One City, Two Theatres initiative which encourages sports fans to take in the Celtic League match tonight followed by the Hearts versus Rangers football match with a lunchtime kick-off tomorrow, Turnbull referred to last week's 62-20 win over Selkirk.

He said: "In the second half our backs went particularly well with young stand off Matthew Scott pulling the strings."

Elsewhere in Division One, Edinburgh Accies visit Stirling County.