Rugby: Heriot's star eyeing spot in new British Cup

Published on Tuesday 12 May 2009 10:41

PRIZE guy Dave McCall today called on Heriot's to avoid complacency going into a vital Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership rugby clash with Edinburgh Accies at Lasswade tonight (7.30pm).

The fixture has been switched from Raeburn Place which is unplayable but the stakes remain the same – Heriot's need a point against the team they thrashed 50-8 in a recent cup tie to leapfrog Boroughmuir and claim a place alongside Ayr as Scotland's club representatives in a new cross-border British Cup next season.

McCall, who earned man-of-the-match honours as Heriot's defeated Melrose to lift the national cup on Sunday, said: "We decided there would be no focus on playing Accies until after the cup final.

"That said, this is also a big game and we have to wipe out the memory of our last meeting with Accies because we cannot afford any complacency. We'll prepare to face Accies the same as we did for Melrose ."

Such a view is echoed by full back Jon Alston, who sees a place against the best of British as a worthwhile achievement. "This is an equally big game to the cup final because the possibility of playing against England and Welsh national league clubs or the Irish provinces' reserves does not come along very often.

"Some of the best club players around will be potential opponents and it will be good to be part of that."

Edinburgh Accies are badly hit at front row where hookers Mark Price and Mungo Strachan are abroad while Australian prop Nick Lah has returned home.

Coach Ian Barnes insists Accies will put out the strongest side available, however, and as Premier Division One representative on the Scottish Rugby Council, he is more aware than most of the implications of the new tournament.

"The new competition is a seismic change of direction for the club game," said Barnes whose own career with Hawick, South and Scotland was peppered with examples of victories against English, Welsh and Irish rivals. Those wins – defeating Bath and Coventry on the same weekend while with Hawick – were in the amateur era of course, but nevertheless, he is ideally placed to know how positive attitudes can be all important. Also on Barnes' CV are victories against the likes of Gosforth, who were then English champions, and Ballymena in the year they were regarded as Irish kingpins.

He adds: "In a different era admittedly, teams like Hawick got wins over opponents from around Britain simply because we were better than them.

"Anything that helps raise the profile of club rugby today has got to be good."

There has been some talk of Scots players being over-matched but Barnes rejects that view.

"I don't buy into the danger question. All those taking part are big boys who can handle the standard. Ayr, in particular, have bought into the tournament and I'm sure they'll take it in their stride.

"The main problem is going to be logistical because although dates are earmarked for during the international programme the integrity of Scottish domestic competition has to be protected. There can be no whingeing after the event from teams that wanted to go in to the new tournament that they can't fit their league games in.

"The other Premier Division One clubs will bend over backwards to accommodate Ayr and either Heriot's or Boroughmuir, whoever comes through to enter.

"But everybody who enters must do so with their eyes open and the only disappointing aspect for me is the suggestion coming from Ireland that those who take part in the clubs' event shouldn't be eligible for the clubs' international matches."

Such a move is certain to be strongly resisted so that the clubs' tournament complements the popular new clubs' international campaign.

Edinburgh Accies: T Brown, C Dickie, I Berthinussen, S Walker. A Powell, R Bonner, M Campbell, P Burns, D Cherry, R Mathieson, E Stuart, G Campbell, C Jarvis, R Snape, T Drennan. Subs: J Pecquard, C Martin, A Marsh, K Bobbie, R Lovett.

Heriot's: J Alston, C Goudie, D McCall, R Mill, A Douglas, O Brown, G Wilson, A Dymock, S Mustard, M Welch, M Reid, T McVie, J Parker, J Syme, A McCutcheon. Subs: W Blacklock, F Gillies, G Anderson, S Bell, G Rutherford.

TONIGHT'S annual Co-Optimists versus East Lothian match, scheduled for Haddington, has been cancelled.