Dollar top of the bill in Scottish Cup action
GARETH BLACK
THE Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Cup final has regularly drawn crowds of 6,000 to Murrayfield and even though this season's under-18 competition is only at the third round stage, a large crowd is expected at Myreside today when George Watson's College take on Dollar Academy, who have reached four out of the last five finals, winning three of them.

Ally Donaldson, Watson's Director of Rugby, acknowledges the team coached by Andrew Ker and Andy Barnett is still a young side, with three of last season's Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools under-15 champions winning promotion to the senior XV - prop Chris Scott, No 8 Malcolm Peacock and centre Jack Ferguson, who was player of the match in that under-15 final.

"It's a tough draw at this stage of the competition and it does raise the question as to whether it should still be seeded at this point," he said.

Watson's hope that two of their more influential players, stand-off Jamie Forbes and centre Grant Somerville will be fit, while captain and back-row forward Stuart McInally, continues to win plaudits, building on his inspired leadership of Scotland under-17 last season.

The match kicks-off at 5.30pm and Dollar travel to the capital having seen off Shetland Schools in Lerwick last week.

Another intriguing third round tie today is the Midlands derby at Forgandenny between Strathallan and the High School of Dundee (2.15pm).

Dundee coach Bruce Beckett noted that his side won the friendly between the schools at Mayfield earlier this season but "home advantage is with Strath and I'm sure the whole school will be out watching."

Tomorrow there's an inter-city clash to whet the appetite when last season's Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Cup under-18 bowl winners, Portobello High School, travel to Glasgow to meet St Aloysius.

Portobello coach Steve Roy is in the fortunate position to have most of that team still available with the talents of centre Cameron Deardon and back-row Michael Moyes adding to the mix.

The kick-off for that game at Millerston has still to be finalised.

Other third round ties
Today: Gordonstoun v Morrison's Acad (2pm)

Tomorrow: George Heriot's v Marr College (2.30pm); High School of Glasgow v Glasgow Acad (3.15pm); Edinburgh Acad v Trinity Acad (3.30pm)

Thursday: Robert Gordon's College v Peebles HS (2.30pm)

Saturday: Glenalmond College v Merchiston Castle

This article: http://sport.scotsman.com/rugby.cfm?id=1762332007

This article was posted on 6-Nov-2007, 08:31 by Hugh Barrow.