Rory wants short sharp shock to lift 'Muir out of mire
BILL LOTHIAN
BOROUGHMUIR captain Rory Couper today revealed that, when he heard news of his club's shock Scottish Cup exit at the hands of giant-killing opponents Cartha QP while holidaying abroad, he thought it was a wind-up.

Of course, he was put right about that on returning to training this week.

But the Scottish clubs' international is determined now that BT Premiership rivals at Meggetland tomorrow, Hawick, will be first in experiencing a 'Muir backlash to that 24-30 defeat by the Second Division outfit.

'Muir are desperate for a win that could see them spring from the relegation zone at the expense of Stewart's/Melville, depending on how those fellow strugglers fare at home to champions Glasgow Hawks and Couper is eager to once more play his part after admitting to some subsequent discomfort at missing the Cup clash. "I phoned back as soon as I could from our skiing holiday in Italy to initially find coach Bruce Reekie not too pleased," he explained.

"Later I got acting captain Ben Fisher, who was more relaxed in talking about the defeat but even then I did not know if I was having my leg pulled.

"The subject of my going away is a sore point around Meggetland with a few folk but the trip was arranged at a time when last weekend was supposed to be free before weather prompted a fixture re-arrangement.

"And that's the bottom line - as amateurs, we players can't be there every week."

Expecting matters to be made easier by Glasgow Hawks rolling on in their title-winning season is not an option though, as Stew/Mel spokesman Malcolm McColl has made clear. "We are treating this game as a must-win outing for our likely unchanged team - especially as it is to be expected Boroughmuir would win their final match at Heriot's so late in the season as April 22," he said. Regarding Couper's no-punches-pulled addressing of the subject of his absence he is intent on being just as direct in seeing off Hawick.

"I like to think I have a reasonably good record against them - that is why they try to take my head off every time," said the Edinburgh fitness instructor who was missing when 'Muir went down 10-29 in the corresponding fixture in the Borders earlier this season.

But he is confident that relinquishing the Scottish Cup will focus minds in a match which could be decided up front.

"It is sure to be physical, as it usually is with Borders teams, but we'll face up and hopefully come out on top helped by the return of Greig Scott at second row."

Scott came off a suspension last weekend in finding his way back.

"Greig is typical of the fact we are developing lots of aggressive young players so much so that our fans are now not just talking about the likes of Ben (Fisher) and Gus (Martyn) but others as well.

"Really it will be a case of putting everything together because from what I've been told against Cartha the backs went well as did our set-pieces. What let us down was broken-play work which must be put right now that survival is back in our own hands which is the important thing to come out of last weekend.

Echoing that view, 'Muir manager Grant Wilson insisted the club's shock Scottish Cup exit could be a blessing in disguise.

"At the start of last Saturday if anybody had told me we'd be out of the Cup yet our relegation plight would be back in our own hands, through Stewart's/Melville losing at Watsonians, I'd have taken that deal. Depending on results elsewhere tomorrow if we can get a bonus point then the visit to Heriot's on April 22 could see us safe but first things first, which is a win.

"Losing to Cartha was absolutely unacceptable and the players have been told," said Wilson in announcing a two-change team which includes Couper slotting into a vacancy caused by Stephen Ruddick's shoulder injury, with Mike Brown switching from wing to centre. Up front there is a recall for Euan Matheson at flanker with Peter Knight dropping down to the bench. "This is undoubtedly one of the biggest games in Boroughmuir history and I'd urge as many of our supporters as possible to provide backing," added Wilson.

As for Hawick, they are drawing sustenance from a record at Meggetland which shows they have won on ten of their 20 league visits with another four matches drawn.

This article was posted on 24-Mar-2006, 13:16 by Hugh Barrow.