EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS

COLIN RENTON


HERIOT’S director of rugby Kenny Milne is urging his men to focus on twin targets in tomorrow’s BT Premiership clash at home to Glasgow Hawks.

The Goldenacre side currently share top spot with Hawks, although they have played three more matches.

The Capital side posted a 27-22 win in the away fixture earlier in the season and Milne is keen to complete a double. But, a more important goal for him is to secure a victory from either of the two matches that remain - the other is against city rivals Watsonians - to ensure Heriot’s finish as runners-up.

"Everyone is keen to do well in this game", said Milne. "Boroughmuir could still finish second, so we need one more win to make sure of second place. It would be a feather in our cap if it was against Hawks."

Tomorrow’s visitors secured the league title at Goldenacre last season, and Boroughmuir did so the previous year. Milne is keen to avoid a similar situation tomorrow, although mathematically nothing can be finalised.

But he acknowledges that the men from the West will be worthy champions if, as expected they go on to retain the league trophy.

Nevertheless, Milne believes that his side would have been welcoming Hawks tomorrow with the title still up for grabs had they not been hit by injuries to key personnel.

"I still think that we are the better side with us at 100 per cent against them at 100 per cent. We showed in our win at Anniesland earlier in the season that we are as good as anybody on our day," he added.

Milne pinpointed the loss of influential stand off Ander Monro as the turning point in the Heriot’s challenge. Monro sustained a shoulder injury which required surgery and has missed a major portion of the league campaign.

Greig Rutherford has proved a worthy deputy at No.10 and the former Currie man will again occupy that berth tomorrow. Missing from a back division that is endowed with exceptional pace is Rob Dewey, who has a knee injury.

Also unavailable is prop Ally Dickinson, an apprentice with the Gunners, who has excelled for Heriot’s this season, He is on the bench for the pro outfit’s clash with Neath/Swansea Ospreys.

This article was posted on 25-Mar-2005, 15:57 by Hugh Barrow.