Strathmore ready for their first final

The closest the Forfar outfit have come previously to the national stadium in recent years was back in 1998 when they were pipped in a last-four clash by local rivals Carnoustie.

The only current players who were involved in that disappointment were centre Colin Strachan, stand-off Mike Bruce and second row John Westwood and the experienced trio have been crucial this season as the club has bounced back from last year's relegation.

A number of young players have been in good form including Kiwi teenager Brad McKenzie who has taken over the kicking duties of late, scoring some crucial points in the semi-final win over Wigtownshire. Winger Niall Lear scored a hat-trick in last week's 53-7 league win at Kinross to take him to 22 tries for the season.

For their opponents, the season really could not have gone much better to date. After a slow start they got into gear in East One and held off the challenge of Portobello to win the league while they have had to get to the national stadium the hard way. The win in the last eight at Mackie was impressive given the distance travelled to record a 39-13 away victory in Stonehaven and the 21-20 semi-final victory against Duns showed the real fighting spirit of the team.

In the backs, Danny Waldman can be explosive from full-back, while up front, back-row Richard Macaulay has been having a great season alongside Jamie Dove, who has also been playing well in recent weeks.

North Berwick: D Waldman; G Fairgrieve, P Gannon, R Richie, C Lauder; G Craig, G Spence; C Cockburn, B Buchanan, A Gallacher, R Freer, I Dove, R Macaulay, J Dove, T Dale. Subs: D Thorburn, L Inglis, B Inglis, S Smith, B Lowe, J Armstrong, C Ewer.

Strathmore: B McKenzie; M Marshall, C Strachan, S Ross, N Lear; M Bruce, L Knox; C Sim, K Mitchell, G Strachan, S Gray, J Westwood, B Morrice, J Wilson, C Bell. Subs: G Durward, T Malkowski, J Kiely, M Lamont, G Watson, G Black, J Mclaren.