Currie pair tackle Irish in Ayr clash

By BILL LOTHIAN
Published on 08/03/2013 13:33

Currie full back Jamie Forbes and flanker Mark Cairns get a break from trying to end the Malleny Park outfit’s losing league run when they turn out tonight for the Scottish clubs’ team against Ireland at Ayr.

Forbes’ debut is reward for a series of outstanding displays while Cairns’ experience, which includes turning out for the national sevens squad, earns him the captaincy.

Coach Phil Leck has been able to pick players who compete at Premiership level on release from the professional sides and Edinburgh Accies provide both Hamish Watson and Alex Allan while Boroughmuir prop Robin Hislop is called upon.

Flying the flag for Heriot’s in the starting line-up is centre Max Learmonth while Kevin Bryce, Jason Hill and Cammy Ferguson are on the bench.

Meanwhile, Scotland under-20s bid to end a run of three defeats against Wales counterparts at Inverness tonight.

The Scots have posted wins over Italy and Ireland and coach Sean Lineen was ruing one that got away when they were squeezed out by England.

Said Lineen: “We were very unlucky in our first game in England but we have responded well with two wins and we want to make it three in a row.

“The Welsh are a big bunch of lads and they play a physical, high-impact game. They beat the All Blacks last year in the World Cup and finished third so we know exactly what we are letting ourselves in for.

“The perception of Scottish age-group rugby is that there isn’t much there, but we’re proving that’s not the 
case.”