Injury pile-up sees end to Whitecraigs’ dreams of tasting cup final success

An injury crisis ruling out up to 14 of their players has forced Whitecraigs to reluctantly concede today’s scheduled RBS West Regional Cup final against Ayr.

The Premier C outfit reached this stage after a draw at Glasgow Hawks in the semi-finals saw them progress after scoring more tries. That achievement had left head coach Jim Henderson and his players looking forward to welcoming Ayr to Newton Mearns, but their current predicament has left those hopes in tatters.

Whitecraigs honorary secretary Graeme Scott said yesterday: “It is with much regret that we have had to concede the tie against Ayr. This is owing to a severe injury crisis at the club.

“We currently have 14 members of the first XV squad injured and not available. We also had two players unavailable because of work commitments.

“We have not taken this decision lightly and felt it was necessary for player safety.

“The majority of the players who would have had to play have no first XV experience or are not of the standard required to play against the cup holders.

“I would like to thank Ayr for their understanding of our situation and also the championship committee for their help and guidance during this week.”

The upshot of the situation means that Ayr, who have won the cup in the last two seasons, are ‘winners’ of the West Regional Cup and will take on Boroughmuir or Heriot’s in the national semi-finals on March 31.

The two Capital sides meet today at Meggetland in the RBS Edinburgh Regional Cup final (2.30pm) with Boroughmuir looking to make it four wins on the trot in all competitions.

Sep Visser returns on the wing for the hosts with Harry Fenton given a chance at scrum-half, while Callum Macintosh starts in place of club international captain Sean Crombie at hooker. Will Kay is also given a chance to start in the second-row.

With Fraser Brown on club international duty the talented Alex Spence is given an opportunity to start at No 7 for Heriot’s.

The experienced Stewart Maustard starts at hooker and will look to lead by example as his side aim to gain the upper hand up front.

In the RBS Caledonia Regional Cup final, Dundee HSFP and Aberdeen Grammar clash at Mayfield (3pm).

The visitors have already lost in Dundee twice this season, but travel south in determined mood.

Indeed, so focused are they on the task in hand that some of their squad have cancelled planned trips to Dublin to watch the Scotland match this evening so that they can play.

Talented up-and-comer Stuart Smith partners captain Murray Douglas in the second-row and Angus Willis gains a place on the bench.

The hosts’ head coach Ian Rankin has urged fringe players to make their mark with a number of key men missing.

Elsewhere this afternoon Jed-Forest and Edinburgh Accies will cross swords in Premier B as will Watsonians and Glasgow Hawks (both 2.30pm).

Hawick and Melrose meet in the RBS Borders Regional Cup (3pm) with the result academic as Gala are already through to the national stage.