Ednburgh Evening News reports
COLIN RENTON
GLASGOW HAWKS coach Dave Wilson insists that his side are capable of competing with the much-vaunted Edinburgh Accies pack, should Saturday's National Cup final between the sides become a forward battle.

However, Wilson is keen to avoid such a situation arising when his side take to the Murrayfield turf for the fifth time in the last nine years. He is keen to play an expansive game, believing that such a tactic is more likely to deliver the silverware for a third time.

Wilson has focused his attention on his own side, as they have gathered momentum during the latter part of the season rather than seeking to assess the merits of the opposition. Admitting that his judgements on the Capital side's strengths are not based on first hand knowledge, he said: "All I really know about Edinburgh Accies is from what I have read in reports and from speaking to various people."

Those reports have led him to conclude that Accies, who will be seeking to become the first side to win the Bowl, Shield and Cup competitions, will adopt a similar tactic to that which has served them well as they have ousted league champions Currie, two times winners Hawick and Capital rivals Boroughmuir on the way to booking their slot in the showdown for the trophy.

"I think Barney [Accies coach Ian Barnes] has a juggernaut pack that has obviously performed particularly well in Division Two and in their last few ties against Premier One sides they have shown that they are capable of performing at that level," he added.

However, Wilson is confident in the ability of his own front eight, as he explained, saying: "I would like to think that we can do a bit of a mixture if that is what it takes. I think we are capable of playing well up front and also through our backs. I certainly don't think we are a one-trick pony.

"We can mix it when we have to. It's probably not the way I want us to be playing but I think you have to cover your base."

And, he believes that the game plan his men adopted when Hawks ground out a 19-17 win over West of Scotland in the semi-final is proof of that ability and will have given his players the confidence to face whatever style of match Accies choose to play.

He added: "I think that what probably hadn't helped us in recent weeks was that the opposition we played against possibly didn't give us the intensity that was required. Having played West, who had a big pack, that was just the right medicine for us in terms of a reality check.

"That very much showed us that when we come up against Accies we are going to have to step it up."

And, while he is preparing his men for the anticipated forward onslaught, he is conscious that the wily Barnes also has substantial firepower behind the scrum should he choose to employ it.

He continued: "If the pitch surface and the conditions are right for us on Saturday, it's not rocket science to work out that if we can get some momentum in the game we will move it wide. We don't want to get bogged down into a set piece confrontation. Now whether Barney is wanting to get into that particular set up only he can say.

"In listening to his comments in recent weeks, it seems that he has been very happy just to keep it in the forwards and strangle the life out of opposition sides. We don't have any plans to change our game plan. The important thing for us is that we have to create a platform up front in order for us to then do what we want to do.

"If we can get ball, people know we will try and move it and I'm sure that Accies are equally capable of moving the ball and, while the strength of their pack gives them the platform, it's then a matter of whether they choose to do that or keep it tight. I've got a sneaky suspicion that if they have the opportunity to run it they will do."

Wilson has been handed a boost with the news that the availability of recent absentees Ally Dale and Greig Francis mean Hawks will be virtually at full strength.

Only long-term injury victim Alan Kelly is not at his disposal for the match, which is the fourth final in a full day's action and kicks off at 4pm.

This article was posted on 3-May-2007, 12:15 by Hugh Barrow.