Scottish clubs seek cup lift-off

SCOTTISH clubs are back around the table discussing how best to improve the elite end of the club game with everything from an eight-team premier league with local academies to district sides from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Caledonia and the Borders taking over from clubs in future British and Irish Cups on the agenda.

However, that all fades into the background this weekend as Ayr, Currie and Melrose focus on the third cross-border cup competition and how they can use it as a springboard to new levels of quality and interest at their clubs. All three have taken part before, with Ayr and Currie perennial Scots representatives, and Ayr the only Scottish team to reach the quarter-finals to date.

Ayr kick off today at Plymouth Albion’s Brickfields ground. The home side are fourth from bottom in the English Championship with just four wins in their opening ten games, and today field a host of talented youngsters, including Scotland U20 flanker James Tyas.

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Ayr are also looking to improve their form, sitting sixth at the split with seven wins from 11 games and, while missing key forwards to injury, they have strengthened their side under B&I Cup rules by calling in Glasgow professionals Johnnie Beattie and Jon Welsh, and talented youngsters from elsewhere.

Assistant coach Peter Laverie said: “The SRU have been more involved this year in helping to plan and support the three clubs in terms of coaching development and the delivery of coaching at specialist skills sessions throughout the country.

“Each year we have participated, Scottish clubs have helped us out with player support and we believe these games have given their players a rewarding experience. We plan to give as many Ayr players as possible a B&I Cup opportunity over the four pool games.

“But we are delighted to have the support of Dundee HSFP, Stirling County and Glasgow Warriors for this week’s match at Plymouth. Their invaluable contribution has helped enormously, given our injuries and the unavailability of 1st XV players. Plymouth Albion will be a huge challenge on their home patch but we can’t wait to get into the action.”

Melrose and Currie are in action tomorrow, with the Borderers the only Scots at home, kicking off against Bedford Blues at the Greenyards at 2pm. Coach Craig Chalmers knows that his side were fortunate to emerge victorious at Gala last weekend and has made some changes in an effort to improve the performance against a Bedford side taking the chance to blood many youngsters.

“Bedford are a professional outfit who have aspirations of getting back into the English Premiership,” said the former Scotland fly-half, “so we know exactly how hard a task we face on Sunday.

“They play a fast attacking style of rugby, so it should be an entertaining game and one that my players are really looking forward to.”

Currie are on their way to the famous Headingley ground to meet Leeds and while he, like Ayr, has had to cope with a plethora of injuries, coach Ally Donaldson was upbeat about the challenge.

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He said: “Leeds have won five in a row and it’s a real challenge, but there’s a sense of excitement and anticipation at playing such a quality team at a great venue like Headingley.”

There will also be some Scots involvement in Wales when Lewis Calder captains London Scottish in their first away match in the competition, at Llanelli’s Parc y Scarlets stadium tomorrow, looking to build on their championship victory over Esher last weekend after early cup humblings by London Welsh and Esher.