EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS

Houston hasn't got any more problems
BILL LOTHIAN ([email protected])
JOHN HOUSTON has shaken off a hip injury to make a timely return from medal-winning glory and provide Heriot's with lift-off to their Premiership rugby campaign against Glasgow Hawks at Goldenacre tomorrow.

The 23-year-old centre was plucked from the Scotland sevens squad to skipper Great Britain to second place in the international student tournament in Rome during the summer.

His side beat Ukraine, Morocco, Italy and Spain along the way before losing to France - but at a cost.

"Unfortunately, during the tournament I landed heavily on hard ground and suffered severe bruising," said the sports science student who is on a scholarship at Heriot-Watt University.

"As a consequence of my injury I've had to look on from the sidelines as Heriot's faced Hamilton, Clifton, Moseley and an Edinburgh back-up team over the past three weeks and it has been highly frustrating.

"Thankfully things are now starting to clear up and I'm looking forward to the fresh motivation the summer of sevens has provided.

"Not only that, but my second season at Heriot's should be all the better for knowing my way around following a move from Hawick.

"After four years of travelling back and forward to the Borders for training and matches it was time to call a halt and, while some Borderers weren't too pleased, the more understanding realised my dilemma.

"Hopefully time saved on journeys can now be translated into even better displays," said the sevens cap who was approached to captain GB students while representing Scotland at the Twickenham leg of the international circuit.

While Houston - the sole Heriot's back to score a hat-trick of league tries last term - and new stand off Huw Goodwin are the only changes behind the scrum from the Heriot's team which signed off last term, it is a different story up front.

There, only flanker Tam McVie remains as a host of new recruits are drafted in, including props Graham Scott and Kenny Blythe as well as second rows Steven Turnbull and Jamie McColl.

What really intrigues the opposing Hawks coach tomorrow, Davie Wilson, is the presence in the dug-out of Bob McKillop, who is so highly rated as a coach that the Glasgow outfit tried to take him on board before Heriot's trumped the bid.

"Heriot's should certainly benefit from the arrival [from Stirling] of Bob and I see them as challengers even if Currie register as the main threat with Watsonians putting on a show regardless of whether or not they bring in any imports," said Wilson, whose own side are hoping to sign former Scotland winger Rory Kerr as they set out in search of a fourth consecutive title.

In fact, such a good job have Watsonians done in producing players for the professional game that even player/coach Cammy Mather admits tomorrow's opening home encounter with Ayr is an even bigger venture into the unknown that usual. With Andy Turnbull, Bernie Hennessey and Jamie Blackwood off to Rotherham and Brian Rennie signing for Borders, Mather says much will depend on how quickly he can integrate the likes of Andrew Skeen (ex-Newcastle) and Matt Couper (ex-Edinburgh Acads).

"Not only are we an unknown quantity to the opposition but to ourselves also," said ten-times capped Mather as he prepares for his swansong season, aged 33.

"We have had to rebuild to the extent that success would be represented by achievements comparable to last year," he adds.

Since Watsonians captured the Scottish Cup and finished runners-up in the league that is a demanding target but Mather remains upbeat, though much will depend on how frequently SRU-contracted apprentices are made available.

Among those who could be required to put emphasis on conditioning or back-up matches at the expense of club games on occasions are talented scrum half Murray Bringhurst and hooker Steve Lawrie but Mather is expected to include both tomorrow and insists the cupboard is not entirely bare.

"Another to have re-joined is Torry Callendar. He showed promise in the pack a few years ago while Skeen and Couper look very, very good in the back-line."

Nobody has recruited better than Currie, who start at Aberdeen Grammar FPs.

But, besides enlisting Mark Blair, who has a European Cup medal with Ulster and Ally Warnock, who helped Boroughmuir to the title, in 2003, commitment to the cause is illustrated by stalwart Mark Cairns.

Before the season has even started in earnest, flanker Cairns is preparing to have his front three teeth replaced as a legacy of a stray boot within five minutes of the opening friendly. "There was no malice attached to my mouth injury. Such knocks go with the territory in my position, where you are required to put your body on the line sometimes but it was a reminder of how far ahead of the rest I'll need to be to escape the blows," he said.

Cairns put himself about so effectively that Currie reached the Cup Final last season for the first time and, according to the 23-year-old, standards have now been set.

"As well as losing seven games on the trot near the start of last season we also won six in-a-row near the end. That latter run took us to the Final and hopes are high now that such experience of playing in an environment where so much is expected will have a positive effect."

Another team to finish strongly were Boroughmuir and the alternative would not have borne thinking about as relegation haunted the Meggetland outfit throughout early 2006.

With a stadium development effectively complete star flanker Angus Martyn has urged colleagues to carry on where they left off in maintaining the run that carried them to last minute safety and do justice to the extra spectator facilities.

First assignment for 'Muir is away to Hawick and Martyn, who scored 11 tries from his 23 appearances last season, says: "Living on the brink of relegation certainly pulled the side together when it mattered. Fortunately, we survived thanks to beating Hawick (32-17) and Heriot's (37-19) in our closing two matches and, with those ground renovations now complete, it is possible to sense an altogether brighter atmosphere around the club."

As a consequence of the construction of a new stand and clubhouse on adjacent sides of the pitch the playing surface has actually been increased, which should be good news for the pacey Martyn who relies heavily on support running and tying in loose possession to keep 'Muir on the front foot.

Playing down those attributes, the man who was called up to augment an injury-hit training session by the touring Scotland team while he was holidaying in South Africa during the summer is happy to pass on the credit.

He said: "I've always been helped by the Boroughmuir pack being solid but that seems to be even more the case this year. With a good platform up front the aim is to do even more justice to the coaching of Eamon John who has come in with some fresh ideas which look like paying dividends though only time will tell when the Premiership gets underway.

"Whatever happens we should benefit from some well-planned fitness training in a league that looks sure to be extremely competitive with no fixture whatsoever able to be taken for granted."

Bill Lothian gives his verdict on how the Capital's elite will fare this season
WATSONIANS
RUNNERS-UP last season and Cup winners for the first time, they have set a standard which player/coach Cammy Mather has pledged to maintain in his final season. All it will take to leapfrog regular champions Glasgow Hawks will be staying power as two of their four losses were by one score with a careless point dropped at Boroughmuir.

Coach: Cammy Mather.
In: Andy Skeen (Newcastle), Torry Callander (Kelso), Matt Couper (Edinburgh Acads).
Out: Bryan Rennie (Borders), Andy Turnbull, Jamie Blackwood, Bernie Hennessy (all Rotherham).
Prediction: First.

CURRIE
TOOK a giant leap forward last season with a first Cup Final appearance - beating champions Hawks along the wayand look to have built on that strength. Ex-full timers Mark Blair and Ally Warnock will provide a strong lead offsetting the departure to the pro ranks of Ben Cairns and Dougie Flockhart and the coaching team looks very strong.

Coach: Ally Donaldson.
In: Ally Warnock (Nottingham), Mark Blair (Borders), Andy McMahon (Livingston).
Out: Ben Cairns (Edinburgh), Dougie Flockhart (Borders)/
Prediction: Second.

HERIOT'S
IN Bob McKillop, the Goldenacre side have recruited one of Scotland's up-and-coming coaches with responsibility for the Scotland amateur side already on his CV. One of the ex-Stirling flanker's first jobs was to lift morale since Heriot's were close to rock bottom during a mediocre 2005/6 season. Capable of beating anyone on their day - they were one of the few to upset champions Hawks last season - but don't expect miracles overnight as McKillop rebuilds the pack. .

Coaches: Bob McKillop and George Breckenridge.
In: Mark Lee (Army), Huw Goodwin (Bath League).
Out: Jamie Syme (Australia)
Prediction: Mid-table.

BOROUGHMUIR
WHEN the going got tough, 'Muir were posted missing a few times last season though they did salvage top flight status with two late wins. New coach Eamon John will certainly instil discipline but has a tough job replacing Scotland's club player of the year in scrum half Calum Cusiter (off to Borders). Free scoring flanker Angus Martyn has been overlooked by the pros and prop Cameron Ward maintains a fine tradition of Kiwi imports.

Coaches: Eamon John and Stuart Reid.
In: Cameron Ward (New Zealand), Sean Hollywood (Portobello), Chris Capaldi (Plymouth).
Out: Calum Cusiter (Borders), John Cox (Rotherham).
Prediction: Mid-table.

This article was posted on 25-Aug-2006, 11:33 by Hugh Barrow.