November cup tie falls to weather once again

THE Scottish Hydro Premier Cup fate of Boroughmuir and Kirkcaldy looks set to be decided by the Championship Committee after the match between the two was postponed for an eighth time last night. The encounter was switched to Boroughmuir's Meggetland ground yesterday afternoon after Beveridge Park once again failed to beat the elements.

Premier 2 side Kirkcaldy travelled through to the capital, but it was felt that parts of the pitch were too hard and not playable as a result. The match was called off shortly before 7.15pm leaving everyone frustrated and the Boroughmuir players training.

With Cartha Queens Park awaiting the winners of a preliminary tie that was amazingly first scheduled for 21 November in round one, and the winners of that match then set to face Perthshire in round two in just ten days' time, the situation has become a real headache.

According to the rules of the competition the outcome of the match is now likely to be decided by the cutting of cards, but the Championship Committee could make a decision of their own.

Meanwhile, Currie hope to take another step towards reclaiming the Premier 1 title tonight when they face Stewart's Melville in a rearranged league match in Lasswade.

The game is a home match for Stew-Mel but so serious has the fixture backlog become that both clubs agreed to a switch to Lasswade's new stadium to ensure the game goes ahead. Stew-Mel are already relegated to Division Two but the development of their young squad is uppermost in the mind of Graeme Moffat, himself the league's youngest coach, before he returns to Canada to take up a new coaching post this summer.

"Our thanks to Lasswade for allowing this to happen. With relegation already confirmed it's not going to be easy against a side that look destined to win the league, but hopefully we will continue to play our open game and with the same spirit that we have showed throughout the season," Moffat said.

Currie will want to extend their lead over dogged chasers Ayr and showed some rustiness in overcoming second division Hawick in the cup at the weekend. Andy Adam, Chris Kinloch and James Johnston return tonight.

"Though Stewart's Melville are now relegated they will play with a tremendous amount of spirit," said Currie coach Ally Donaldson.

Stewart's Melville (v Currie at Hawthornden, 7.30pm): R Borthwick (capt); M Doneghan, H Lingard, C Marshall, A Cox/L Steele; R Grant, S Ker; A Edmonstone, S Blackwood, A Statham, B Leathes, A Lean, A Fraser, R Sutherland, B Tweedie. Subs: J Charles, C MacIntosh, C Sutherland, E Clark, Cox/Steele.

Currie: G White; W Moala, C Kinloch, A MacMahon, S Walker; J Smith, R Snedden; J Cox, N Scobie, A Hamilton, A Adam (capt), R Wilson, M Cairns, J Thomson, R Weston. Subs: A Reekie, M Erskine, S Burton, J Taggart, J Johnson.