McVie return boosts Heriot's Cup challenge
BILL LOTHIAN
HERIOT'S today received a boost ahead of a crucial Scottish Cup clash at Glasgow Hawks with the return of Scottish club's team captain, Tam McVie.

McVie returns to the back row after missing last weekend's concluding Super Cup group tie at Melrose with Peter Eccles switching to second row and Jamie McCall dropping out altogether.

Meanwhile, Hawks secretary Hugh Barrow believes his side will be gunning for revenge having lost two previous meetings between the teams this season.

"After losing home and away to Heriot's in the Premiership this season our lads will no doubt feel they have something to prove."

Tomorrow's match programme is expected to see Hawks enter the rugby political arena with comments from club official Kenny Hamilton, a former chairman of the Premiership Forum.

In an article on the impending closure of Border Reivers, Hamilton will say:

"It leaves behind a lot of questions. What is next for Scottish Rugby? Will additional resources be allocated to Edinburgh and Glasgow? What targets are there for the two remaining sides to maintain their Scottish Rugby subsidy?

"What will their relationship be with clubs? Will the Academy structure in Borders be maintained? Will they still be paying Gala a reported £50k for ground rental and putting in place an all-weather facility? Can we develop a high-quality club game to support professional rugby?

"What happens if the French clubs withdraw from European competition? We have, of course, been round this particular roundabout before - two pro teams in 1998 before re-introducing Borders in 2001. So where will we be in another six years?"

The winners of tomorrow's tie are away to Stewart's/Melville in the quarter-finals.

Glasgow Hawks (from): R Kerr, S Gordon, R Munday, S Duffy, J Kerr, G Macdonald, S Low, M Strang, K Sinclair, R McKnight, N Cox, D Malcolm, G Mories, A Dale, N Caddell, J Fitpatrick, J Maclay, G Macfadyen, S Kidd, M Smith, S Pollock.

Heriot's: J Thompson, M Teague, captain, C Goodall, C Wilson, S Manning, N Alston, G Wilson, G Scott, N Meikle, K Blyth, G Broomfield, P Eccles, T McVie, D Lambert, W Oldham. Subs: C Sinclair, S Mustard, J McCall, M Goldie

This article was posted on 30-Mar-2007, 11:38 by Hugh Barrow.