Watson’s out to follow in footsteps of star pupils

A NUMBER of George Watson’s College players who have made a Murrayfield final in recent years have gone on to do well in the senior game – and that will give the school’s current under-16 squad extra incentive ahead of tomorrow’s Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools Cup final against Dollar Academy.

Back in 2007 and 2008 the Edinburgh school’s teams won the under-15 event, as it was then. From the 2007 vintage who defeated Edinburgh Academy 12-5, centre Jack Ferguson is now playing regularly for the Watsonians team who recently made it into Premier B, while skipper Malcolm Peacock is turning out for Currie and has been involved in the British & Irish Cup this month.

In 2008 Watson’s beat George Heriot’s 7-5 and captain Dan Marinello is now on the fringes of the Watsonians first XV squad, as is hooker Ali Ross.

That same year the under-18 team lost the final to Merchiston Castle, but still brought through talent such as Ferguson, Peacock, Edinburgh’s Stuart McInally, Currie’s Jamie Forbes and Watsonians Chris Scott.

Ahead of tomorrow’s match (4pm) at the national stadium, coach Ian Brown said: “It has been good over the last few years for current players at the school to see former pupils go on and do well in rugby, none more so than Stuart McInally, and I hope that this under-16 final will just be the first step in a long rugby career for many of the boys.”

Watson’s have had to pull through a number of tight contests to reach this stage.

They saw off Strathallan (38-3) before a tough battle with Stewart’s Melville College (11-5) and an even tougher semi-final with Dundee High School.

The Taysiders clocked up a 6–3 half-time lead before Watson’s scored two tries by Ben Robbins and Angus Coull to build up a 13–6 advantage. A late try by the Dundee school closed the gap to 13-11, but Watson’s held on.

Brown added: “The team have had an intense season including some very closely-fought matches and the players have really stood up to the task well.”