Rugby: Hamilton in frame

CURRIE prop Alastair Hamilton is hoping that his maiden try for the Malleny Park senior side will be swiftly followed by another first when the Scotland Club International side to face France is named next week.

The 22-year-old powerhouse has been rewarded for a string of fine performances with a place in the 22-man squad, and he looks set to be involved at some stage, earning further recognition for his contribution to Currie's march towards the Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership title.

Currie are a step closer to landing the silverware after a 29-5 win over Edinburgh Accies at Raeburn Place that was even more comprehensive than the scoreline suggests. Hamilton was on hand to cap a dominant opening ten minutes by Currie when he bagged the first of their five scores.

"That was my first try since I left school," he said. "It was a planned move that went slightly wrong but turned out right in the end."

Johnny Smith added the conversion then did so from in front of the posts after the referee awarded a penalty try shortly after Accies had lost Ed Stuart to the sin bin.

The win was effectively secured in injury time at the break when Ross Weston marked a fine all-round performance by snapping up try number three.

Accies made a livelier start to the second period but Gavin Douglas was off target with a 40-metre penalty. Hamilton was then sent to the sin bin after he was adjudged to be the miscreant in an incident at the breakdown that involved several players from either side.

Although there was no change to the scoreline in the third quarter, Currie stepped up a gear and Weston sent Willie Moala in at the corner for the bonus-point try, then Ryan Wilson plunged over for number five.

At that stage, the Currie line had rarely been under threat but the home side raised their game for the final five minutes and scrum-half Jonny Letham darted over to bag a consolation score for Accies, who have now suffered three hefty losses in successive matches and now sit fourth from bottom.

Their coach Ian Barnes said: "I'm disappointed with that – we're just not playing."

And he admitted that the recent run of poor form is becoming a cause for concern, adding: "We just can't keep it going – we have to start doing something."

Hamilton is relishing the prospect of playing against the French at Netherdale on 5 February, and has not ruled out the possibility of following the example of Glasgow Warriors player Jon Welsh, who was not spotted by SRU talent recognition schemes but has made a big impression since turning pro.

Hamilton said: "Being in the (club international team) is good – it's the next step up for me."

And, of the possibility of progressing further in the game, he added: "I'm doing a joinery apprenticeship at the moment but if something comes up I would take it."

However, his focus for now is firmly on securing the league title. He said: "Every game is a cup final from now until the end of the season. It's in our hands and we will be trying to get five points in every game."

Scorers:

Accies: Try: Letham.Currie: Tries: Hamilton, Penalty, Weston, Moala, Wilson ; Conversions: Smith (2).

Accies: S Moffat, M Coupar, G Douglas, R Browne, C Dickie, R Bonner, J Letham, D McLeod, M Strachan, L Niven, E Stuart, M Stevens, D Teague, T Drennan, G Campbell. Subs: S Patience, D Wright, R Snape, P Arnold, G Peoples.

Currie: G White, W Moala, C Kinloch, A MacMahon, S Forrest, J Smith, R Snedden, J Cox, N Scobie, A Hamilton, A Adam, R Wilson, S Burton, J Thomson, R Weston. Subs: A Reekie, G Scott, M Cairns, S Walker, I Downie.