Bury keen to blow away the cobwebs

It says much about the fractured domestic rugby season that Tom Bury, who makes his return for Boroughmuir at home to Stirling County in the Premier Cup tomorrow, has been absent through injury since September but remains one of the club's more prolific try scorers.

Two touchdowns in the opening four games set the 22-year-old threequarter well on course to maintaining his link with the Scottish seven-a-side team he has represented four times.

However, a combination of shoulder damage and inclement weather resulted in Bury being sidelined - though he is quick to acknowledge things could have been worse.

The former Scotland age-group cap who, as a teenager, shared in a schools 4 x 100m relay title, says: "The upside of this injury is that I've not missed as many games as I could have.

"And I am returning with plenty to play for both on the club front and with the sevens where I've been kept involved while awaiting a decision on selection for Scotland's trip to tournaments in Wellington and Las Vegas next month.

"As for Boroughmuir we restart for the first time since November against a Stirling side who have a particularly useful second row in Grant Gilchrist and a match-winner in Stuart Edwards.

"But we have won the first of our three pool games - the restructuring of the competition to give teams at least three outings before knock-out stages is a great idea - and eventually reaching Murrayfield for the final is a big part of our focus now.

"However, the cup format also provides a chance to hit the ground running when the league resumes and with a B & I Cup place to aim at there is more incentive than ever for clubs."

Added the recruitment consultant with Harvey Nash UK: "If Boroughmuir do put a run of wins together it will owe much to our coaches keeping players active and maintaining spirit during the bad weather."

Two regulars missing tomorrow are Robin Hislop and Harry Leonard who are with Scotland's under-20 squad. Jonny Latta starts with Josh Duley on the bench after returning from New Zealand. Stevie Wilson is at centre in place of Harry Leonard .

Stirling coach Eddie Pollock says: "We have Bengy Barsanti on holiday and Sean Kennedy rested due to under-20 commitments."

Watsonians hand a debut to kiwi utility forward Hamish Gee at West, while Accies visit Glasgow Hawks.

Heriot's entertain Stewart's/Melville. No teams or squad information is available.