Lasswade call on winning pedigree

Kiwi stand-off Carl McWilliam and South African centre Bernie Hennessey both won the Cup with Watsonians back in 2006. They will be key for the Hawthornden outfit who are missing another of that Watsonians Cup-winning side Gavin Brown who is out with a fractured cheekbone.

Added to the Watsonians link is experienced coach Dave Cockburn at the who is at the helm at Lasswade now. The former Boroughmuir and Edinburgh player, who has coached Watsonians and Glasgow Hawks amongst others in the past, has been a huge success since he took over in the summer of 2008.

Last term the first XV lost only three league games and let in just 190 points on their way to securing the National Three title and they have also been going well in National Two this season.

"We are fortunate to have such experienced players and coaches leading the squad and they may be able to help others with nerves ahead of this one," said Lasswade president Ian Barr.

Lasswade are the only side to have beaten Greenock this term – a 15-13 victory at Hawthornden back in December.

Greenock Wanderers have played some superb rugby this term, winning 21 out of their 22 league matches to be crowned league champions.

The whole first-team squad – with the exception of replacement Jim McArthur who is from Dunoon – have come up through the youth system at Fort Matilda.

Lasswade: N Murray; N Gray, J Elliot, B Hennessey, K Smith; C McWilliam, N Clark; C Adam, D Turnbull, M Billingham, D Robertson, D Grant, C Quigley, D Hearn, R Borthwick. Subs: S Montgomery, B McGregor, P Robinson, G Cook, G Sharp, R Gladstone, A Elliot.

Greenock Wanderers: D Watson; B McGroarty, K Smith, D Murray, L Tyley; A Devlin, A McDougall; D Smith, A McMichael, M Lavelle, M Gray, A Abernethy, M Duncan, C Robb, G Mooney. Subs: J McArthur, R Lavelle, C Clark, J Stewart, S Connolly, G Fletcher, I Forster.