Rugby: Moray House put promotion celebration on ice

MORAY HOUSE Rugby Club have achieved promotion for the first time in the club's 64-year history but coach Andy Kerr is refusing to celebrate for the time being, writes BILL LOTHIAN.

A decision by the Scottish Rugby Union championship committee to dock Gala YM 19 points for fielding "ineligible player/s" on four occasions in East Region Division Two has massive implications not only for the Jack Kane Centre-based club but also Dalkeith.

Dalkeith entertain Gala YM tomorrow in what was billed as a title decider, with both sides guaranteed to go up until Murrayfield officials intervened.

Gala YM's second place now goes – pending appeal – to Moray House and Kerr said: "We lost by a point to Gala YM last Saturday and accepted our fate until learning of the protest. This is not how we wanted to be promoted and, for the moment, judgment is reserved until it is established whether the offence was done accidentally or otherwise. It may be the case that an administrative error has occurred which would make the penalty harsh.

"On the other hand, deliberate manipulation would render it lenient because our side, who had worked so hard all season, were denied their moment in front of one of our biggest-ever crowds."