Corstorphine sweat over Brett

SCOTTISH CUP giant-killers Corstorphine were today keeping fingers crossed that a star player would be available to share in another attempt to bring down higher-rated opposition in tomorrow’s BT Cellnet-sponsored Cup tomorrow.

The West Edinburgh outfit await West - who play two grades further up the scale in Premiership Division Two - with doubts surrounding the availability of flanker Brett Clement.

But, if the quality back rower fails to secure time off from work commitments to help try to add to the scalp of Premiership giants Kirkcaldy secured in the previous tie, then Corstorphine are hopeful that former Heriot’s ace Peter Robinson will prove an able deputy.

Otherwise, Corstorphine are expected to be along the lines of the side which completed a fifth consecutive victory against Ross High in National League Division One, where hopes remain high that promotion can be achieved in addition to a lengthy cup run.

Free-scoring winger David Zavaroni, 33, whose goal is play in a title-winning side, said it was proving to be a rewarding season after joining Corstorphine from Penicuik eight years ago.

Corstorphine lie seventh in the league, but Zavaroni pointed out: "The league is so open with only a handful of points separating several teams. But while we’re in contention on two fronts there will certainly be no complacency. We will need to work hard for any further gains against opponents whom we had watched when against Watsonians last weekend."

Holders Boroughmuir welcome back age group internationalist Ally Warnock for their home clash against Perthshire with the stand off refusing to take the huff over being controversially omitted from the team which lost at Melrose last weekend.

That was on a day when Boroughmuir opted to take up the offer of using released on licence Edinburgh Gunners, including No.10 Calvin Howarth.

But Warnock made it clear he was not inclined to point the finger in the wake of a winning display for the 2nd XV at Stirling County as he returns for a tournament in which contractees are banned under domestic rules.

"I respect the coaches’ decision to play Calvin Howarth for whom I have a lot of respect as a player and a person," he said.

Many are tipping Warnock to step up to the Gunners at the end of this season, but the Stirling University student is keeping options open.

"I would like a contract but with two years of my studies to run I will take events as they come," he added.

’Muir coach Iain Paxton bravely held his hand up and admitted a selection mistake in challenging the side to bounce back against Perthshire. He said: "Maybe a wrong decision was made in not picking both Ally Warnock and Nathan Pyke on a day when Alastair Davidson and Calvin Howarth were made available to us, but hindsight is a great thing."

Heriot’s coach Donald Macdonald today welcomed back prop Andrew Welsh to face Edinburgh University tomorrow at Goldenacre from a trial spell at Pontypool and urged the front rower to ally experience gained to existing potential to claim a Scottish professional team contract.

"Andrew knows primary chores are a prop’s priority and if he builds on that can go far using Heriot’s as the launchpad," said Macdonald.

Elsewhere, Currie head for Grangemouth with teenage hooker Steven Lawrie in line for a first start.