EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS

FORMER Scotland under-21 captain David Blair has vowed to make up for lost time in resurrecting his rugby career back in the Capital.

The 22-year-old younger brother of World Cup scrum half Mike is certainly off to a flying start after marking his return from Sale Sharks by piloting Edinburgh Accies to the final of the Morisons Solicitors Challenge Cup at Goldenacre on Saturday, where they lost 25-7 to a more experienced and incisive Glasgow Hawks.

Now stand-off Blair is hoping his efforts will earn him an immediate promotion into the Edinburgh starting line-up for Friday's friendly with Tonga, at a venue still to be confirmed.

"After four years at Sale my priority now has to be getting game-time," said Blair.

"I played a couple of times for Sharks and was on the bench on 10 other occasions.

"Trouble was, just as I was promised a steady run at the beginning of this year I broke a couple of small bones in my back.

"So, there is a lot of time to make up on re-crossing the border and with Edinburgh offering me a contract I feel I have benefited in a number of ways.

"Firstly, I've had a good pre-season in the gym and it has also been good to link up with four or five guys I played age-group internationals with.

"What really encourages me is the prospect of shifting between Accies and Edinburgh as and when required though.

"Obviously, I'd love to make my mark in the pro game with a run against Tonga my first target."

Blair would not be drawn on the prospect of establishing a half-back link with his older brother - there is another sibling, Alex, also coming fast through the ranks - but many shrewd judges feel it is only a matter of time.

What was clear was that in helping Accies through group games on Saturday against Boroughmuir and Ardrossan - he was left out of a match against Aberdeen Grammar on the squad rotation policy and they drew 0-0 - Blair was both try-maker and scorer.

This did not go unnoticed by Blair's fellow under-21 cap, Iain Berthinussen, who has joined as centre/youth development officer after a stint at Border Reivers.

"From David's point of view I hope he is pre-occupied with the Magner's League and European Cup, but when Accies have call they'll be fielding a cracking player.

"David has such good vision, whether as a kicker or a passer of the ball," said Berthinussen, whose input will partly stem from a recent two-year spell in Australia.

There, at Queensland's renowned Southport School - where national coach Frank Hadden once taught - he saw close-up some of the methods that contribute to the Wallabies being perennial World Cup contenders.

"There's no doubt the Aussies do things differently and I have a few ideas to try out," said Berthinussen, who made clear the fact he still has much to prove.

"I was really disappointed the way things worked out at Borders where I was affected by injuries," hew said.

"I would love another crack higher up," he added, vowing to use his setback to ensure his best rugby years still lie ahead.

So far as Saturday's repeat of last year's Scottish Cup Final with Hawks was concerned though, Accies again found mixing with the streetwise Glaswegians a bridge too far.

However, Berthinussen insists they now know what has to be aspired to after gaining promotion last term.

"I view the final as a benchmark of where we are at given a few key absentees, rather than a wake-up call, because Hawks have been at or near the top for so long," he said.

Indeed, once Berthinussen develops understanding with another rising star in full back Chris Kinloch then Accies will be particularly potent at the back.

As for the rest of the Edinburgh challenge Boroughmuir's resources were stretched by sending a 1st XV to Tynedale, but their youngsters showed plenty of guts nonetheless.

Also, Heriot's came within an intercept score of reaching the final when they lost a key group clash 14-7 to Glasgow Hawks. Ruiridh Jackson did the damage just as a host's score loomed.

Coach Bob McKillop was philosophical, saying: "Winning the trophy was a pre-season goal so in that respect we have slipped up.

"But in blowing away a few cobwebs early on when beating Dundee High, we got the rub of the green so we can't have too many complaints."

One concern for Heriot's was a wrist injury to stand-off Murray Strang, who looked as influential among the backs as prop Andrew McNeill, scorer of one long range try against Falkirk, was up front.

"I picked out McNeill as the star of the Premiership when he was at Hawick last season and his arrival not only gives us a formidable scrummager but a player who can handle like a back row," said McKillop.

In the final, Accies quickly fell 0-13 behind to a try from the outstanding Ally McLay, coupled with two penalties and a conversion from Jackson.

Ironically Ally Marsh's try for Accies came a Cup Final too late, considering how he had to be airlifted by helicopter from his wedding for the Murrayfield showdown between the teams last May. It was no more than a consolation anyway, with Blair adding the conversion.

Just before the interval Stuart Dunk extended Hawks lead and victory was confirmed by a Kenny Sinclair touchdown which was converted by Jackson.

This article was posted on 20-Aug-2007, 12:18 by Hugh Barrow.