Schools rugby: Captains savour countdown to Murrayfield showpiece

TWO high quality semi-final matches in the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools Under-18 Cup last week have set the tone for what is expected to be a memorable occasion on Saturday when Edinburgh Academy and George Watson’s College take to the international pitch at Murrayfield for the final (kick-off 6pm), preceded by the under-16 game between Dollar Academy and Watson’s (kick-off 4pm).

At a photocall at Murrayfield yesterday, under-18 team captains Ramsay Young of George Watson’s and Chris Dean of Edinburgh Academy paraded the trophy. Young said: “Three years ago a number of the players in this team competed in the under-15 final so it will bring a lot of memories back for us. But there are also a number of new players for whom this is a new experience. We can’t wait to get there and take on Edinburgh Academy.”

Dean added: “It’s always a real privilege to play on our country’s international pitch and the Academy are lucky enough to have reached the final for the third year running.

“The team are all looking forward to this great opportunity. We are feeling the nerves because there will be a huge, noisy crowd supporting both teams.”

However, supporters hoping to enjoy the pitch-side vantage point introduced at Edinburgh pro team matches will be disappointed.

A spokesman for the SRU said that this facility will not be available, and traditional seating arrangements will apply.

At not quite the same stage ,but now generating considerable excitement, the Brewin Dolphin Under-18 Plate is approaching the quarter-finals. Only one match remains from the last 16 – the game today between Peebles High School and former Plate winners, Royal High School.

Peebles High School, in common with other schools in the Borders, focus their effort on first to third year teams after which it is the clubs who take over for under-16 and under-18 rugby. That means that the Peebles High School side today will be drawn mainly from Peebles Colts, who lie third in the Borders semi-junior league.

“That’s probably the right approach as long as there is still some school involvement. We probably play about six games in a season and that keeps the top end of the school interested,” said David Changleng, the Peebles High School coach, who does not believe that the revamped structure for the cup, with its straight knock-out format, is the right one.

“We couldn’t take the gamble of entering the cup,” he added. “You could be out having played only one round. That’s difficult for those state schools who always want a crack at playing against the independents. The problem is that the private schools are so strong and getting stronger – and even within the independent sector the Edinburgh schools are pulling away from the Glasgow schools..”

A win today for Peebles High School, who field district representatives in flanker Richard Harrison, and centres Scott Halliday and Cammy Pye, or Royal High School will given the victors an away quarter-final with Carrick Academy.

The other three quarter-finals have already been determined. Aberdeen Grammar are at home to Madras College, Earslton High School are also at home and will face Kelvinside Academy, who were the surprise winners by 8-3 against Plate favourites, Marr College, while Millburn Academy, who knocked out Glenalmond College with a 17-0 win have a home tie in Inverness against Linlithgow Academy.