Club rugby: Simon Cross upbeat as Accies face tall order to make top eight

THE PRESSURE begins to build in the RBS Premier One with just three weekends remaining before the split, and there will be few places as tense as Raeburn Place.

Edinburgh Accies welcome the Premiership’s high-flyers Gala this afternoon and then travel to the only team better than the Maroons currently, Melrose, before completing the first 11 weeks with a home match with Currie. Simon Cross, the Accies coach, knows a thing or two about pressure after a professional career with Wasps and Edinburgh, and after dropping to ninth he has worked this week to steel the resolve of his players.

“It is an exciting run,” he said, “and what I’ve said to the guys is that they have to believe in themselves.

“Last week I knew we would have to win to stay in the top eight and we came out on the wrong end of the result against Aberdeen, but I was very impressed by Alex Duncan’s side. It is not easy coming up and competing straight away a division higher and both they and Gala have done very well.

“Aberdeen have done it with a very different side this season and George [Graham] at Gala is doing well with a lot of young boys through his squad, which is great for rugby in Galashiels.

“The difference in this league is that when you make a mistake you are punished with a try; it’s that clinical. But the boys are learning and improving every week, which is all I ask of them. I’ve been very impressed by the leadership of Dan Teague, who has pushed into the second row to help the team, Alex Black has been doing well at scrum-half and it’s unfortunate he’s got a shoulder injury and will be out for a couple of weeks

“ James Taggart has been a real stand-out for us, coming back after completing his MBA last year. He’s a real David Pocock style of player, and is getting more influential all the time.

“But we’ve got a good squad and we’re trying to play a way that plays to our strengths and provides rugby people want to come and watch. We are still in with a shot of finishing in the top eight, but we have to beat Gala this weekend, and then take something from the last two games and that is what everyone is focused on.”

The young coach is also involved with the Scotland under-16s and helping defence with the under-20s, and he is very enthusiastic about the young players he sees coming through the club game. Gala have several, centre Chris Auld and Russell Anderson, the hooker, among those showing some star quality this season and they should figure prominently in today’s match.

Elsewhere, reigning champions Melrose go to Bridgehaugh looking to keep themselves atop the league table while Ayr, Dundee and Currie know that victory – Ayr travel to Mayfield and Ally Donaldson’s former champions head to Hawick’s Mansfield Park – would clinch their place in the top eight.

Aberdeen are at home to Heriot’s with the Edinburgh side scrapping to remain in contention for a top eight place while the Premier One newcomers would all but secure their place in the new-look ten-team elite league with a win.

The remaining Premier One fixture is at Meggetland where Glasgow Hawks pitch up for what is a much closer affair. Hawks, one spot from the bottom of the table, need to uncork a first away win, but ’Muir, currently in seventh, may also drop into the relegation battle if they slip up with two away games to come.