Schools rugby: Old foes braced to do battle for 152nd time

Schools matches do not come much bigger than this Saturday's Merchiston v Edinburgh Academy game at Colinton, the 152nd playing of what is the oldest continuous schools fixture in the world.

Both sides go into the match with unbeaten records in domestic schools competition this season. Merchiston lost to Stirling County Under-18s earlier in the year and have had what their coach, James Boyd, describes as 'challenging games' outwith Scotland against Sedburgh, Millfield and Campbell College, Belfast but with wins over Dollar, Loretto, Heriot's and Stewart's-Melville behind them there is a feeling of confidence in the Merchiston side.

Boyd, however, cautions that the weight of history can have an effect. "There is no hiding from the fact that the game is steeped in tradition and sometimes the occasion can get the better of the players" he said. "But we have to treat it as any other game and the challenge for us it to take our positivity into the match and to transfer it into responsibility for our actions on the field.

"The Academy have had a good season and have produced some impressive performances and it promises to be a real tussle this Saturday, one that I am looking forward to."

Academy, the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools Under-18 Cup holders, warmed up for the Merchiston match with a 57-17 win over Hereford Cathedral School last Saturday but know that this weekend will present them with their stiffest test this season.

Edinburgh Academy coach, Mark Appleson said: "Merchiston are particularly strong this season and especially so in the front and second rows. If we can compete in the front five then we have a chance. We recognise that they have an international pairing at half back but we're playing well this season and our defence has been outstanding."

Key players for Merchiston will be former Dumfries scrum-half Scott Steele and stand-off Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and for the Academy, captain and centre Chris Dean and scrum-half Alex Glashan.

Elsewhere, Heriot's will want to maintain their recent good form with a strong showing against Hutchesons' Grammar School on Saturday while, at Myreside, George Watson's face a Robert Gordon's side fresh from a short tour to Canada where they won all three games. Watson's also face Robert Gordon's in the Under-16 Cup on Saturday at Myreside but before then travel to Inverness to play a cup game against Millburn Academy tomorrow.