Ian Rankin wary of County threat

By GARY HEATLY
Published on Saturday 28 January 2012 05:20

HAVING lost to Stirling County earlier in the season thanks to the last kick of the match Dundee HSFP will be taking nothing for granted as they look to keep the momentum they have built up of late going this afternoon.

The Taysiders are still on a high following their amazing comeback win at leaders Melrose in their opening RBS Premier A fixture a fortnight ago, but know the victory at the Greenyards will not count for much if they cannot follow it up.

Currently sitting three points behind Melrose they host County – who beat them 28-27 in September – at Mayfield today and head coach Ian Rankin is expecting another tough test.

He said: “All the matches in Premier A will be hard fought and Stirling have impressed me this season after a difficult start for them. We should have beaten them earlier in the season, but they edged it and any team who has since gone on to defeat Melrose, Currie and Ayr certainly cannot be taken lightly.”

Another thing that cannot be taken lightly is Dundee HSFP’s title challenge. Before Christmas many were saying that the top spot would be fought out between Melrose and second placed Gala, but with both Borders outfits losing last time out on 14 January the men from the City of Discovery cannot be discounted.

You will not hear Rankin or captain Neil Dymock mentioning title talk in the Mayfield dressing room though.

“Certainly not,” Rankin stated, “but what the Melrose win has given the team is that bit of belief that they do deserve to be up there competing. When we have our full-strength squad out we are a match for anyone, while the new all-weather training facilities at Dalnacraig have been a big help to us and are very useful for the winter months.”

For this afternoon’s encounter Dundee HSFP welcome back Scotland under-20 squad member Jack Steele and Australian Cam Wyper returns to the back three.

County, who saw off Perthshire in the cup seven days ago, have key men Craig Deacons and Brian Archibald back at second-row and centre respectively for the away trip following injury.

The club also had good news this week when Eric Urquhart, currently the club’s under-18 coach, was appointed to the post of director of rugby at Bridgehaugh.

Elsewhere in the top flight Melrose head to Edinburgh to take on Boroughmuir at Meggetland with Glasgow Warriors’ Scott Wight released to play.

Wight, the club’s former skipper, will start at stand-off in place of Andrew Skeen with another ex-captain Jamie Murray returning on the wing.

Melrose head coach Craig Chalmers said: “We have trained well and worked hard this last two weeks and can’t wait to get back out there and right the wrongs from our last game [against Dundee HSFP].

The hosts give Harry Fenton his first outing of the season at scrum-half.

Gala welcome Currie to Netherdale in what promises to be an exciting encounter.

George Graham’s men announced their return to the top flight with a victory at Malleny Park on the opening day back in August and the Currie players will not have forgotten it in a hurry.

The Ayr-Aberdeen Grammar match was cancelled yesterday afternoon due to a badly waterlogged pitch at Millbrae.

In RBS Premier B leaders Glasgow Hawks are away to Watsonians. The Old Anniesland side are back at near full-strength for the trip east and will be keen to make it two wins from two.

Second placed Heriot’s host Jed-Forest at Goldenacre, Hamilton are at Stewart’s Melville and Hawick take on Simon Cross’ Edinburgh Accies.

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