EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS

A rare double within reach for Douglas
BILL LOTHIAN
GAVIN DOUGLAS today set sights on the rare achievement of a Scottish rugby Cup winner's medal with both Capital and Border sides after guiding Edinburgh Acads into the semi-final with an 18-11 victory over Hawick at Raeburn Place.

Back in 2002 it was Douglas who emerged as a hero in Hawick colours when, with a final against Glasgow Hawks deadlocked in extra time, he stepped up to land a drop goal which eventually separated the sides.

"There can't have been too many people complete that sort of double and there is certainly a similar feeling in the Acads dressing room to the one we had at Hawick back in 2002," said Douglas.

"Then we went out believing we could beat anyone.

"But, after gaining promotion to Division One, beating national champions Currie in a previous Cup tie and now this, confidence is growing all the time that we needn't fear anyone tomorrow's draw gives us, whether Boroughmuir, Hawks or West."

Make no mistake this was a deserved triumph by Acads who, in ending a six-match unbeaten run by Hawick, had done their homework to lead 11-5 at the interval before applying the coup-de-grace nine minutes from time with a breakaway try from scrum-half Michael Campbell up the side of a ruck.

Although forced to hang in at scrum-time, Acads had a pace around the pitch that was exemplified by another ex-Hawick player, Jamie Parker. On several occasions flanker Parker - an obvious choice had there been a man-of-the-match award - thwarted Hawick by being first to the breakdown to create priceless turn-overs.

Given that platform from a pack able to live at First Division pace there was ample scope for Douglas to dictate.

The stand-off contributed eight points from two penalties and a conversion, but there was more to it than that as he either turned Hawick with some telling kicks from hand or produced a series of telling half breaks based on an uncanny ability to drop a shoulder and sell a dummy.

Douglas revealed: "I had expected the Hawick back row to fly up fast after travelling to watch them win their previous tie against Stirling, so I sat back a bit and tried to draw them on to me. As for the goal-kicking, things have been going well all season without getting too worked up about practising. As this match drew nearer I felt obliged to put in a special session only to kick about three out of 20.

"It was the same beforehand as I sprayed some kicks but the first whistle seemed to concentrate my mind, though it's a while since I've missed as many drop-goal attempts."

In fact Douglas once landed four in a Scottish Cup tie for Hawick against Boroughmuir - and one of his current team-mates at Acads, Nathan Pyke, was on the receiving end that day.

Pyke said: "It's very reassuring to have a kicker like Gavin in our ranks and one of the reasons I'm really enjoying my rugby again after a terrible spell in the pro ranks at Rotherham, whom I joined from Edinburgh Gunners.

"As the new Rotherham coach's first signing I thought I was off to a flying start, but following pre-season work it was clear my face didn't fit and it was soon inevitable I'd be heading home to my first club, Acads. My only regret is that having won the Third Division with Acads and a First Division title at Boroughmuir we got promoted back to the top flight this season as runner's up.

"Mind you a Scottish Cup would make up for failing to complete the 'set' of league medals."

If Acads go all the way it would be rich reward for coach Ian Barnes who resigned as Hawick coach halfway through their 2001-02 cup winning season.

Now assisted at Acads by former club and Scotland team-mate Jim Renwick, Saturday's success was evidently bitter sweet for two proud 'Teries' as Hawick folk are known.

At full time there was no outward sign of rejoicing and almost a minute passed before Barnes showed a hint of a smile as congratulations bore down on him. Little wonder some had been comparing the occasion to when Denis Law returned to haunt Manchester United in the colours of their City rivals and scored the goal that relegated the Red Devils several decades ago.

Several other factors confirmed that Barnes was experiencing mixed emotions including the fact he felt unable to pen his customary match programme notes, the stand-in scribe admitting: "Barney is so overcome with emotion at this afternoon's fixture between Accies and his beloved 'Greens' that he felt unable to put pen to paper."

Likewise Nathan Pyke remarked: "I had expected Barney to be in the dressing room beforehand winding us up but apart from a few quiet words in selected ears all the talking was done in training."

One thing Barnes has said consistently is that success for Acads this season did not have to end with their promotion and so far he is being proved right although his heart must have been in his mouth deep in injury time when, inexplicably, the side started throwing the ball around in defence rather than clearing their lines. It's fair to say, too, that the opening closing minutes were not Accies' finest since, with four minutes gone, a charged down kick saw Kevin Reid respond in a flash to send Nick McTaggart over for an unconverted try.

After Douglas had slotted two penalties to give the home side a 6-5 lead in 13 minutes, though, tension evaporated and confidence was growing to the extent that kicking chances were shunned in favour of attempts to drive over from line-outs.

Such a ploy succeeded spectacularly in 24 minutes when a fierce shunt ended with Parker scoring.

On the change around Barry Sutherland struck the first of two second-half penalties but in between Michael Campbell claimed perhaps the game's most notable score.

After all, among the five men to get on the sheet Campbell stood alone in not being native of Hawick!

It was a score to savour, too, included on the 'popular bank' in the adjacent Inverleith Park where spectators were afforded a free show and the numbers taking advantage included a couple of Edinburgh Rugby internationalists.

And is that proof positive of the current hard times in the Scottish professional ranks? What's certain is that a lot more will soon be flocking through the Raeburn Place turnstile given current form and especially if the draw throws up a home semi-final on April 21.

This article was posted on 10-Apr-2007, 07:01 by Hugh Barrow.