Last-four cup clashes are pick of busy week’s action

Published on 13/11/2012 01:30

THE Brewin Dolphin Cup semi-finals dominate schools rugby this week with the under-16s matches going ahead on Thursday and the two under-18 ties being played on Saturday morning ahead of the Scotland’s international against South Africa.

On Thursday, Merchiston and Edinburgh Academy clash at Colinton while George Watson’s College travel to Perthshire for their game against Strathallan. Strathallan coach Andy Henderson said: “Watson’s are a little bit of a mystery to us as we haven’t played them much. It’s going to be a very tough challenge, but we have the home advantage.”

On Saturday, Dundee High School await Merchiston at Mayfield and Stewart’s-Melville College face Watson’s at Inverleith. Merchiston warmed up for their trip to Tayside by playing Durham School last Saturday, the game resulting in a 24-24 draw. Dundee High School were due to play Watson’s but preferred to focus on preparing for the semi-final. Of the other semi-finalists, Stewart’s-Melville boosted their confidence with a 20-7 win against Dollar Academy.

At New Field, Edinburgh Academy extended their unbeaten run of home wins to almost five years after defeating Strathallan 20-7. Skipper Rory Simpson scored their try, the remainder of their points coming from the boot of Alex Swan.

In the Brewin Dophin Scottish Schools under-18 Plate, Boroughmuir/James Gillespie’s play Lasswade High School in the Edinburgh and Midlothian Regional final at Meggetland tomorrow. The winners of this match will progress to the quarter-finals of the national Plate competition with a tie against Kelvinside Academy, who defeated Boclair Academy 59-7 in the Glasgow North regional final.

Another Plate match goes ahead this week, when North Berwick High, who lost 18-12 to Fettes College on Saturday, play Dunbar Grammar School on Thursday in the second of the Borders and East Lothian semi-finals. The winners face Galashiels Academy in what should be a quality regional final, the prize for which is a place in the national Plate quarter-finals against Linlithgow Academy.

Also through to the national quarter-finals of the Plate competition are Marr College, who defeated St Columba’s 24-0 in the Glasgow South regional final. Marr now face the winners of the Grampian regional final between Gordonstoun and the Gordon Schools, Huntly, scheduled to be played on Thursday.

The fourth of the national quarter-finals will be between the Tayside and Fife regional winners and the Highlands and Islands winners, either Millburn Academy or Plockton High School, who go head-to-head next Monday.