West v GHK - BT Shield Match Preview

This Saturday sees old rivals West of Scotland and GHK meet for the first time since the formation of the Hawks. Having previously been battling it out regularly in the top few divisions, this weekend's fixture in the BT Shield represents a very different prospect for both teams. West are still flying high in Premier 3 with the relatively recently resurrected GHK down in National 5. A massive 52 places seperate the clubs in current league placings.

West are the hosts for this not to be missed tie and Burnbrae will be jumping with cup fever come Saturday. They go into the tie currently filling the second promotion spot in Premier 3 and are undoubted favourites to qualify for the next round. In the 3rd round of the cup West were upset by high flying National 1 Ardrossan, however this is nothing compared to the size of upset if GHK were to come away with a win.

West's home form has been average this season in the league and come into this having won just 1 out of their last 4 at home - including a narrow win last week against Royal High Corstorphine...a team that GHK shocked by beating them in the same competition a few seasons back. That was a very different GHK side and prior to the amalgamation with Royal High. However, a point to note - upsets do happen!

The visitors travel the short journey to Milngavie with nothing to lose. A proud performance in the Cup against Edinburgh Accies losing by 20 points (a flattering score for the Premier 2 capital team) is the only defeat GHK have suffered in all competitions this season and they will give everything to try and continue this form. They too go into the game on the back of a scrappy win, this time the bad tempered affair at Loch Lomond. However, if the players maintain the discipline shown last week and give it their all, they will surprise a number of people, regardless of the final score.

Squad News

The starting XV is still to be totally confirmed due to late fitness tests. However, the provisional squad of 19 includes 6 changes to last week's charges. Injuries have forced backs Stuart Hunter and Olly Jones out, the latter with a nasty fractured eye socket, with their places taken by Cammy Little and Jaimie Millan. Chas McFarlane also comes back to the 1st XV sqaud. In the forwards Nick Cram returns along with John Lohar and Peter Broadbent.

Backs from: C Little, R Love, A Smeaton, M Souter, A McTavish, J Millan, G Rand, C McFarlane.

Forwards from: A Forbes, G Reid, R Welsh, N Cram, S Ferguson, F McKinven, C Donald, S Pollock, J Lohar, M Stewart, P Broadbent.


The game kicks off at 2pm at Burnbrae in Milngavie. All support is very welcome for this historic cracking cup tie.

Everyone loves an underdog...


This article was originally posted on 19-Jan-2006, 21:23 by Gordi Reid.

This article was posted on 19-Jan-2006, 23:34 by Hugh Barrow.