Rugby: Barr stays upbeat

Lasswade Rugby Club president Ian Barr believes the Hawthornden men are well placed to achieve the club's three objectives for the forthcoming season, despite surrendering the trophy at their 15-a-side tournament on Saturday.

The defending champions beat Musselburgh and Haddington then lost to Peebles in their pool matches - with 'Burgh topping the group to book a place in the final against Hamilton in a rehearsal for their clash on the opening day of the league season.

'Burgh's new coaching team will have taken heart from the performance, although Hamilton seized a psychological advantage when they took the honours in a hard-fought contest.

Barr was delighted with the success of the day, saying: "It was a great day with some excellent rugby. (The SRU president) Ian McLaughlin was there to present the trophy and it was a fun day with lots of entertainment."

And from a Lasswade perspective, it was a useful afternoon, with coach Dave Cockburn running the rule over a side featuring several prospects who have emerged from the club's colts set-up.Meanwhile, champions Currie were given a good run-out on their trip to meet Blaydon of the National League Division one.

The Malleny Park men chalked up a 26-12 success against a side that has ex-Currie man Kevin McShane in its ranks and has signed Mungo Strachan from Edinburgh Accies for the new season.

Ian Downie, Alan Whittingham, Chris Kinloch and Mike Entwhistle had a try apiece, while Matt Scott contributed the remaining points with three conversions.

Ally Donaldson's men will again face English-based opposition in their final pre-season outing when they welcome London Scottish on Friday.

Heriot's had a considerably easier afternoon than they might have anticipated, sweeping aside a lacklustre Kirkcaldy outfit 95-0 at Goldenacre.

Bob McKillop's men will expect a much sterner test when they complete their preparations for the new league campaign with a trip to face English League Division Two (North) outfit Westoe at South Shields on Saturday. Marcus Di Rollo had a winning start as coach of Watsonians as they ran in ten tries without reply in their meeting with Kelso at Poynder Park. Elsewhere, Bruce Macnaughton used Stewart's Melville's trip to face Howe of Fife as an opportunity to assess the strength in depth of his squad as the Inverleith men eased to a comfortable win over Howe of Fife at Cupar, with Jordan Kynoch and Mike Crawley each bagging two of their side's eight tries.