RBS Bowl final: Helensburgh ‘mad for rugby’

IF ANYONE wanted to feel where the enthusiasm and excitement currently resides in Scottish rugby they should head to Murrayfield for noon today and tap into a warmly-infectious spirit around Bowl finalists Helensburgh and Dunbar.

The success of the former this season in winning West Regional League Two and the regional bowl, and reaching today’s Bowl final – the 2nds also won their league – led to a 14-page special in the local newspaper this week, a free meal for the squad courtesy of ‘The Buffet Shop’ in town last night and an overnight stay in an Edinburgh hotel thanks to two supporters.

For coach Bill MacDonald, the 57-year-old head of PE and drama at Helensburgh’s Hermitage Academy, it is every bit as exciting as his first trip to Murrayfield, as a coach with Glasgow Hawks 15 years ago. He said: “It’s completely different coaching at this level, but the guys are dead keen, there’s no egos and this is a fantastic experience for any player whether at the top of the tree or further down the leagues. Rugby in Helensburgh is really growing and the town has gone mad for rugby.”

Paul McCloskey, the Dunbar coach, is similarly upbeat about rugby in East Lothian, his side mirroring Helensburgh in winning the East Regional League Two and Bowl before reaching Murrayfield.

He said: “We have had a great season. With North Berwick, Preston Lodge and Musselburgh also doing well, East Lothian rugby at the moment is on a massive high and hopefully we can continue the trend this weekend.”