Rugby: Goudie hails Cup experience as Heriot's shine in league

Published on Monday 14 December 2009 08:56

HERIOT'S in-form winger Colin Goudie believes the British & Irish Cup experience has helped his side get back to winning ways in the league, with Saturday's 40-14 triumph over Boroughmuir their second victory on the trot.

Bob McKillop's side were always in control of a strangely one-sided encounter at Goldenacre and they have taken a huge step to securing their place in Scottish Hydro Premier One for next season by clocking up 10 points over the last two weeks.

Scotland Club internationalist Goudie was in and out of the side during the first few months of the campaign but is now back to his best and has bagged three tries in the last two weeks.

He said: "Last month when we were playing against tough opposition in the British & Irish Cup we tried to use it as a learning experience and I think we have taken things that we learnt in those matches into the league. It seems to have worked as we have played well the last two weeks, while the whole squad is more confident than we were in the early games of the season.

"We have always been quick starters (they were 19-0 up after 20 minutes in this one], but we sometimes haven't killed teams off. Over the last two weeks we have concentrated for the full 80 minutes and have played some nice stuff."

Goudie was quick to pay tribute to the hard work his team mates in the pack put in to set up this victory. "Our scrum was superb and Alan Dymock, Wullie Blacklock and Dylan Mason in the front-row did really well, while having a hooker like Scott Burnett to bring off the bench really helps us. Matt Reid did a good job in the lineout and the link up play between the back-row was good."

No.8 Mark Lee opened the scoring for the hosts after nine minutes and Goudie and Mason, a revelation in recent weeks, both added tries in the first quarter.

'Muir got one try back before the break through skipper Malcolm Clapperton, but it was never going to be their day from the moment stand-off Greg Cottrell was forced off with a head knock in the opening minutes.

After the break Heriot's scored further tries through stand-off Richard Mill, back-row Peter Eccles and Lee again. 'Muir's only points of the second period came through a converted try by back-row Lynton Brinck.

For Heriot's Lee, Goudie and Dymock were the star performers and with a number of players making their way back from injury coach McKillop has some interesting selection dilemmas ahead of Saturday's trip to Edinburgh Accies.

Meanwhile, 'Muir have a number of problems ahead of this Friday's derby against Watsonians. They look set to be without player/coach Fergus Pringle for a spell after he sustained a suspected broken arm in the first-half against Heriot's, while Cottrell's injury will have to be assessed this week and Euan Matheson is still struggling with a hamstring problem.