Currie moving closer to home as cup game switched to Myreside

SCOTTISH club champions Currie are hopeful of finally launching their home British and Irish Cup campaign against leading Championship club Worcester, but it will not be at Malleny Park and nor will it go ahead tomorrow night as was planned.

Due to the snow, Currie were last week forced to give up home advantage for their inaugural match in the fledgling competition, travelling instead to Penzance to face the Cornish Pirates. They flew south on Saturday morning, went down with all guns blazing 54-31, and flew back home that evening.

However, while the thaw has allowed Ally Donaldson's side to return to something more akin to normal training this week, with sessions indoor and on Murrayfield's 3G surface, it has not enabled Malleny Park to become playable even before this week's forecast drop in temperatures.

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Donaldson has used his good relations with employers George Watson's College and the Watsonians club, who have stepped in to offer Myreside and while tomorrow night was a possibility, Currie and Worcester - the fully professional outfit on target for a swift return to the Premiership - have agreed to move the game to Saturday with a 2pm kick-off to ease planning and travel.

Melrose host Esher at the Greenyards and, after investing a near five-figure sum in frost covers, are hopeful that it will remain playable, provided temperatures do not stay much below -5C. However, if there are any problems, Gala's Netherdale pitch is on stand-by. The Gala club have undersoil heating available to stave off frost and have a crucial Premier B match with Border rivals Peebles, and so the Melrose v Esher game will now kick-off at 1:30pm, whether it goes ahead in Melrose or is switched to Galashiels.

Ayr are due to play Welsh side Llandovery at Millbrae after being narrowly beaten away to Pontypridd. Their pitch is in good condition and is covered, so the club is hopeful that the game will beat the weather.

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