If at first you don't succeed try, try again

They are the worst rugby team in Scotland without a win in two seasons and still licking their wounds after a 133-0 thrashing.

• MISSING THE POINTS: Liberton Rugby Club produced Scotland great Bruce Hay, below, but the current side are officially the worst in the country

Now, though, Liberton have decided the downward spiral must be halted and will tonight mount their fightback helped by top Scottish Rugby Union coaches.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Thanks to the efforts of long-suffering coach Craig Young, 37, a training session has been arranged at the club's Double Hedges Road ground where three SRU professionals will be passing on tips designed to get the club back on its feet after losing all 11 games this season and conceding an incredible total of 656 points. To make matters worse Liberton also failed to win in 2008-09.

But while the statistics show that the club is now officially the worst in the country, it hasn't always been the case, with Liberton launching the late, great Bruce Hay on the road to Scotland caps and two British Lions tours back in the 1970s.

Club captain Mikey Steel, 33, admitted that despite the bad run many of the players had been surprised and shocked to discover they were officially the worst team in the country, and insisted they were doing everything they could to bounce back.

"I'm not sure all the lads knew we were the worst, so that was a bit of a kick, and we have had a few big defeats this season," he said. "After those we have sat down as a team and talked it through, what people were unhappy with, and while we've not yet got that all-important win, the performances have been improving.

"Getting the support of the SRU will be a big boost, and we all watched the Scotland game on Saturday and felt it was something of an inspiration. They were fantastic, to come off such a big defeat against the All Blacks and beat the world champions, and it shows that if you dig in you can get the results. Hopefully it will give us a lift."

As well as looking at training and mentality, the team have brought in some fresh blood, with new recruits including a player with Premiership experience, while Mr Steel said their "plight" had actually galvanised a few of the other players to train that little bit harder.

And he said their lowly status meant the pressure in their games was now on their opponents.

"In some ways the pressure is off us, because we can't get any worse - we're already at the bottom, so in a way the pressure is all on the guys playing us, as they will not want to lose to the team ranked as 'the worst in Scotland' and hopefully that will help us.Now the aim is for a first win before the end of this year."

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Coach Craig, who first took up the clipboard seven years ago when establishing rugby in Nepal, is also committed to the cause.

The gardener was teaching English in Katmandu in 2003 when he decided to form a team based on friends from a local gym to play the Gurka regiment.

"Forming a team of Nepalese and expat rugby players to take on the Gurkas on a converted football pitch was where I caught the coaching bug which I brought back to Liberton last year" said Craig, adding: "As part of the wake up call inflicted by the 133-0 defeat I contacted the SRU where Edinburgh coach development manager Greg Cann was quick to pledge support.

"Greg and two other coaches will be at our club tonight putting eight players through stage one of a coaching qualification that will eventually enable them to go out into local schools and hopefully help us establish a youth policy."

Gala YM are the opponents in a league match at Double Hedges Road on Saturday and Craig is optimistic.

"If we improve by the same extent in this fixture a win might even be on the cards."

Related topics: