Wright hoping young Hawks catch Currie cold

PETER Wright was always the kind of player who revelled in the underdog tag, the kind who lived for pulling others down when he got the chance, often by the scruff of the jersey in the front row.

He has carved out a reputation as a coach who likes his sides to play attractive rugby and, with a young squad at Anniesland and through involvement with the Scotland Under-20s, he is also helping to guide the nation's next generation of talent.

But he is licking his lips at the prospect of his Glasgow Hawks side going back into battle with league leaders Currie this afternoon, despite the fact the last meeting between the pair ended in a 59-6 defeat.

It was one heck of an early run by Currie, as they had beaten Selkirk 88-3, put 48 points past Edinburgh Accies and another 56 on West of Scotland before Hawks pitched up at Malleny Park at the end of October. The winter weather slowed the Currie run-rate a bit, but they head to Anniesland today looking to pick up the pace again.

Wright insists his players are not fearful but acutely aware of what happens when they fail to turn up, and he hopes a good training session with Glasgow Warriors on Tuesday night will boost their confidence. "Currie are a very physical side and they are not at the top of the league by accident," he said. "The problem in the last game was just that we didn't compete with them up front and if you don't do that you are in trouble.

"But we have a great spirit at Hawks and great approach to the game. We go into every game expecting to win and this is no different. In fact, there is extra motivation because you always like to beat the team at the top of the league. I know I did as a player – I loved being the underdog and pulling off the surprise wins – and players also hate to lose by big scores, which we did, so there is plenty motivation this weekend. There isn't any fear, maybe a little trepidation, but it's more excitement you can sense. We trained with the Warriors players at Anniesland on Tuesday, with an hour of some live stuff, and that was really worthwhile because it gave the boys a reminder of what they can expect from Currie.

"On Thursday the boys had a bit more confidence about them and were playing with smiles on their faces and that's what I want to see tomorrow afternoon."

The match is doubtful due to the overnight frost and will be subject to a pitch inspection this morning, but Wright insisted the players and club was desperate to get the game on with so many fixtures now piling up. He has scrum-half Peter Jericevich and Duncan Weir, the stand-off, back from Scotland sevens duty, and with Weir set for a move into the professional ranks with Glasgow this summer, the teenager is keen to leave a lasting impression at Anniesland.

Ayr stand-off Frazier Climo may not now join Glasgow, as he requires a work visa to remain in Scotland after this season, but he is back at centre for Ayr this afternoon as they bid to keep up the pressure on Currie with victory over West of Scotland at Millbrae, in a game also subject to a pitch inspection.

Meanwhile, Gala and former Scotland coach George Graham has been banned from the touchline for two matches by the SRU's independent disciplinary panel after he was reported by the union for verbally abusing a referee following his side's league defeat to Stirling County in December.