Fringe players get their chance for Gael Force

A NUMBER of players who have been plying their trade in the Scottish Hydro Premier Leagues over the last few months have a chance to impress for Gael Force in the British & Irish Cup clash against Plymouth Albion at Lasswade tonight (7pm). The match has been switched from Bridgehaugh, because the Stirling ground is covered in snow.

With a number of the squad on Scotland A duty in Italy, coach Stephen Gemmell has had to dip into the amateur reserves.

That means the likes of Aberdeen Grammar hooker Niall Shannon, Dundee HSFP flanker Stefan Dreyar and Selkirk No8 Andrew Renwick join Academy players Steven Aitken, Ross Aitken, Tom Bury and Neale Patrick in an inexperienced looking starting XV.

Edinburgh second-row Steven Turnbull is named as captain and he will have a big responsibility on his shoulders to guide the newcomers along.

The only player in the backs with long-term professional experience is Andrew Turnbull and it will be interesting to see how the highly thought of duo of Pete Horne and Chris Kinloch do teaming up in the centre. Ross Aitken is also a talented stand-off from Howe of Fife.

On the bench there are three Glasgow Hawks youngsters – including recent Scotland Sevens cap Duncan Weir – while Edinburgh Academy hooker Mungo Strachan will hope for a run out.

So far in the competition Gael Force have lost all three Pool A games. Plymouth have lost two.

Admission to the match is free.

Gael Force (to play Plymouth Albion in the British & Irish Cup at Lasswade, tonight 7pm): S Aitken (National Academy and Aberdeen Grammar); A Turnbull (Edinburgh), C Kinloch, P Horne (both Glasgow Warriors), T Bury (National Academy and Boroughmuir); R Aitken (National Academy and Howe of Fife), R Samson; R Grant (both Edinburgh), N Shannon (Aberdeen Grammar), D Young (Edinburgh), N Patrick (National Academy and Boroughmuir), S Turnbull, F McKenzie (both Edinburgh Rugby), A Renwick (Selkirk), S Dreyar (Dundee HSFP). Subs: M Strachan (Edinburgh Accies), J V'aa (Glasgow Warriors), R McAlpine (National Academy and West of Scotland), A Kirkland, P Jericevich, D Weir (all National Academy and Glasgow Hawks), M Doneghan (National Academy and Stewarts Melville).