Weekend games suffer wipeout as frost bites

OVERNIGHT frost on Friday made sure that there was almost a complete wipeout of schools fixtures on Saturday morning and, as if it were needed, provided yet another reminder of how difficult it can be to play rugby at this time of year. Schools fare worse than clubs because nearly all of their matches are played on Saturday mornings, when what warmth there is in the winter sun has little chance to take effect on frozen ground.

Mornings, too, make it more difficult to play rugby at other times of years, as former Scotland and Lions coach Jim Telfer was wont to point out. Telfer claimed that for most of the season handling the ball in morning matches was more difficult because of dew on the ground, and that often by the afternoon this was no longer a problem.

Among the casualties last weekend was the Merchiston v Robert Gordon’s College match and now the Aberdeen school has had no rugby games since the turn of the year. The other high-profile fixture to fall victim to the weather was Dollar Academy’s match with Royal Grammar School, Newcastle.

Top of the bill this weekend will be Edinburgh Academy’s game with Stewart’s-Melville College at Newfield, where Academy will be looking to extend their unbeaten record this season. Closest rivals George Watson’s College take on Glasgow Academy.

Anniesland neighbours, Glasgow High School, along with North Berwick High School, are two of the schools taking part in the Powder Byrne preliminary tens tournament at Fettes College on Saturday morning, the winner of which will be invited to join Fettes and Merchiston as the Scottish representatives in the Six Nations tens tournament at Richmond on 16-17 March. Also taking part on Saturday are Loretto, Robert Gordon’s College, Dunblane/Wallace High Schools, Ayrshire Select and Musselburgh.

Meanwhile, in the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools Under-18 Plate, Carrick Academy beat Peebles High School 15-0 in the delayed quarter-final tie to become the fourth semi-finalist in the second-tier competition, where the Ayrshire school faces Linlithgow Academy a week on Thursday, a day after the first of the semi-final between Earlston High School and Madras College.

Peebles High School are still in the under-16 competition after defeating Marr College 17-10 in Troon last week and will play Linlithgow Academy in the first of the semi-finals.

Borders interest is also being maintained by Jedburgh Grammar School, whose away quarter-final tie with Lomond School was called off on Saturday. Jedburgh are the favourites to progress to play the Gordon Schools, Huntly, last season’s beaten finalists in the under 16 Plate.