IRVINE Rugby Club round off their preparations for life in the BT National League Division One with a friendly against Cambuslang on Saturday.

Premier Three outfit Cambuslang will provide a stern test for coach John McHarg's men, who have been training hard over the last few weeks.

The Marress outfit have also been bolstered by the arrival of several new faces and there are hopes that a few other players, who have also been training at Irvine, may commit to the club before their opening home fixture with Greenock on Marymass Saturday.

Among the new faces are Barrie Logue, Kieran Pentland. Stevie Alexander and Stewart Pratt, a highly respected former centre with Kilmarnock, who has been lured to Marress by new backs fitness coach James Adams.

Adams, who has worked with Kilmarnock, Glasgow Hawks and Ayr, brings with him a wealthy of knowledge which will be vital as Irvine prepare for what will be an extremely tough season in the top flight of the National Leagues.

This article was posted on 21-Aug-2006, 14:06 by Hugh Barrow.