Currie Colts spring shock by knocking out holders

AS the excitement builds ahead of the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools Cup finals at Murrayfield Stadium on Thursday, it is easy to overlook the other competitions in age group rugby currently being played.

And not least the National Youth Cup which, on Saturday, threw up a shock result with the exit in the second round of title holders Stirling County, beaten 11-8 by Currie Colts to reverse the result of last season's final at Murrayfield.

As a result, Currie, safely into the quarter-finals, will now be viewed as favourites for the title, although Boroughmuir may contest that fiercely such has been the form of the Meggetland side this season.

Meanwhile, previous finalists Musselburgh edged out Perthshire with a 10-8 win, Dumfries had a walkover against West of Scotland, Haddington defeated Biggar 25-13, GHA disposed of Glenrothes with a 24-10 victory and Aberdeen Grammar emerged victors over Edinburgh BATs in a 26-24 thriller.

At under-16 level, there was better fortune for Stirling, who had a convincing 31-0 home win over Dundee Eagles. In the final Stirling will face Boroughmuir, who defeated West of Scotland 14-7. West, however, have made an impact in the under-15 cup by defeating Howe of Fife 20-5 and will face Currie, winners over Deeside by 26-7, in the final.

There is too much to be decided in the supporting Brewin Dolphin trophies, the Plate and the Bowl. It is the under-18 Bowl that is at the most advanced stage with semi- final matches – Williamwood High School v Berwickshire High School and Kinross High School v Aberdeen Grammar School – due to be played this month. The under-18 Plate, in common with most rugby, has suffered backlogs and two quarter-final ties are outstanding, Royal High School v Kelso High School and Banchory Academy v Linlithgow Academy. The winners will then play each other in the semi-final. The other semi-final will be between Belmont Academy and Wellington School.

If the Plate competition seems relatively unimportant, then it is worth reflecting that when Royal High School won the trophy their team contained two players who went on to win Scotland caps, Alan MacDonald and Ben Cairns.

But it is the cup final that is the glamour event and the teams that will take to the international pitch – Hutchesons' Grammar School take on Stewart's-Melville College in the under-15 match followed by the under-18 clash between Edinburgh Academy and Stewart's-Melville College – were announced yesterday.

While more than 5,000 supporters turned out at the Brewin Dolphin Scottish School's Cup finals last season, both under-18 captains are comfortable with the pressure.

A losing finalist in last season's competition, Stewart's Melville College captain, Michael Crawley, said: "I feel quite lucky if I'm honest. I don't think many people can say they've played at Murrayfield twice in two finals so I'm very grateful.

"The few who played last year will definitely benefit from the experience and will be better ready for the occasion and help the team to keep composed.

"I think the game will be very tight. We played earlier in the season and we won 12-10 but you can't really judge anything from what was a very even match."

Edinburgh Academy captain and stand-off Fraser Gillies, added: "It's brilliant to have made it to the final, the semi-final was a big day but getting to the final is not enough for us, it's not the aim.

"We're here to win the final and we're not happy with just playing at Murrayfield – we want to win the final."

Like all Scottish Rugby youth and age-grade representative fixtures, admission on Thursday is free (first match kick-off 6pm).

TEAMS FOR UNDER-15 FINAL

(Thursday 6pm, Murrayfield)

Stewart's Melville College: Ryan Frost, Jesper Price, Russell Grant, Scott Murchie, Damon Salmanzedeh, Scott Docherty (capt), Mark Statham; Will Kesley, Lewis Begbie, Fergus Crawley, Matt Hutcheson, Alex Clayton, Shane Brown, Mark Lowes, Harry Turner. Substitutes: Bruce Gorrie, Graham Wilson, Chris Ward, Ali Scott, Cameron McCall, Simran Wilks, Danny Brown.

Hutchesons' Grammar School: Leo Milton, Jamie Crawford, Conor Forgie, Ruairidh Bottomley, Toby Buchanan, George Swankie, Robbie Blackwood; Ben White, Ryan Howie, Ilan Selby, Sheryar Awan, Tom McMurtrie, Blair McCarte (capt), Scott Young, Gordon Campbell. Substitutes: Douglas Connell, Duncan Forrest, Louis Kerr, Ciaran McLaughlin, Robbie Jessiman, Grant Thomson, Paul Smith.

TEAMS FOR UNDER-18 FINAL (Thursday 7.30pm, Murrayfield)

Edinburgh Academy: Adam Simpson, Angus Normand, Ben Brown, Matthew Zegleman, T Whittle, Fraser Gillies (capt), James Munro; Roddy Campbell, Struan Moodie, Struan Murphy, David Forbes, Henry Binnian, Nasos Plevris, Chris Dean, Lawrie Seydak. Substitutes: Tom Normand, an Falkner, Greig Blackie, Jamie MacLean, Alex Glashan, Robin Cumming, Jamie Farndale.

Stewart's-Melville College: Scott Cook, Andrew Hughes, Alex Hagart, Michael Crawley (capt), Max Batchelor, Andrew Warnock, Jonny Gilfillan; Max Campbell, Jamie Cook, George Turner, Ben Docherty, Ross Mcphail, Neil Bowie, Ben Johnstone, Andrew Wilson. Substitutes: Fraser Napier, Hugh Lindsay, Chris Leask, Murray Tainton, Jack Hannay, Charlie Taylor, David St Clair.