Rugby: Signs good for Trinity to bounce back

Published on Wednesday 1 September 2010 12:59

Regional rugby leagues resume on Saturday with Trinity Accies keen to make a swift return to the national set-up on the back of a storming pre-season.

The Bangholm outfit head for Hawick Harlequins in East Division One boosted by four successive wins.

Under the captaincy of Scott Donnelly, a hard-running centre, Trinity have warmed up by defeating RHC Cougars (10-5), Edinburgh Northern (52-0), Edinburgh Accies Blues (32-24) and Heriot's 3rds (14-12).

Equally buoyant are newly-promoted Moray House and Portobello who are certain to be one of the favourites after taking their challenge for a national league place to the wire in 2009-10.

Captained by Irishman Donncha Curran, who succeeds Ben Pickering after he moved to York, Moray House welcome the strongly-fancied Borderers Duns to the Jack Kane Centre.

Coach Neil Wood said: "Preparations have gone well highlighted by a win in the Queensferry ten-a-side tournament while a visit to Selkirk 2nds was a step up which we welcomed."

There is a changing of the guard at Portobello, who start at home to Dunbar.

High hopes exist for youngsters such as Murray Boyter and Michael Moyes in the forwards and Cameron Dearden and Keith Jeffery in the backs .

But Jason Conlin has gone off to work in Hong Kong and fellow back rower Sean Hollywood is also travelling abroad.

Also, Ross McNulty and Pete Mauritzen have retired.

Captaining Porty this season is Craig Little while borderer Steve Roy is doubling up his school role taking control of coaching.

At Division Two Broughton, who start at home to Gala YM, there is a buzz created not only by a resounding tour win at Yorkshire side Yarnbury but the creation of a women's team this season.

Dalkeith step up to Division One with Sean Montgomery back from Lasswade and boosted by reaching the final of the Moffat ten-a-side tournament.