EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS PREVIEWS

BILL LOTHIAN
WATSONIANS will be entering a new era when they take on Glasgow Hawks in their first game of 2008 tomorrow.

Making his debut for the Myreside men will be full back Scott Kennedy, son of 1984 Grand Slam centre Euan.

And lined up for a first home appearance after earning his spurs in the away win at Melrose which signed off 2007, is centre Jamie Wood, another local prospect.

Club president Morris Duncan said: "With the league title outwith our reach and the main objective now the Scottish Cup, it makes sense to start planning ahead.

"Our coach, Cammy Mather, has one or two signings lined up.

"But, meantime, we have to put an emphasis on giving home-grown talent a chance.

"In the case of Kennedy, he now looks ready to settle in at the club after spells on Tyneside, where he was studying, and also in Canada.

"Although also a stand off, Scott can make an initial impression at full back, where we have to replace Scott Stumbles, who has returned to Australia."

Other changes from the Watsonian side which sits fourth in the league see Steve Lawrie claim the hooker's berth on release from Edinburgh while Guy Hills makes his first appearance of the season at flanker.

Hills' re-appearance is timely since Jonny Pelter is out with a hamstring injury. The missing players have caused Duncan to focus on the current depth in the 'Sonian squad.

He said: "Malasai Mailo still hasn't fully recovered from an arm injury so he'll start on the bench and we are grateful to have such cover available at a time when Rohan Steyl is still in South Africa, while Will Rowley has knee problems and Jeff Nicolson is unavailable."

Last season's meeting between the sides in the Capital saw 'Sonians recover from a 0-24 deficit to win 39-37 (six tries to five) while the corresponding fixture this season was another high-scoring affair with the Edinburghers coming through 41-31 in the encounter at Anniesland. That result has contributed to Hawks coach David Wilson feeling that safety points are still required, even though they are 11 clear of second-bottom GHA with just six games remaining.

Wilson said: "I've targeted two wins from our run-in just to be sure of preserving our status and, after that, we'll start thinking about defending the Scottish Cup.

"Of the playing squad compared to when I started with Hawks three years ago, only five regulars remain so transitional periods are becoming the norm.

"Of the teams below us, Dundee are looking as if they might be in some bother at the bottom but GHA are on the up, Edinburgh Accies are getting players back from injury and Stirling County seem to be capable of escaping the drop zone.

"As for Hawick, the other team below us, they are always capable of doing damage at home.

"We threw away a big lead last time at Watsonians so the first step for us will be ensuring that if we get in front this time we stay there."

Watsonians: S Kennedy, A Rowe, J Wood, D Brown, C McWilliam, A Skeen, E Howe, K Traynor, S Lawrie, K Coertze, T Callander, W Lipp, J Abraham, B Hennessy, G Hills. Subs: N Hart, G Wood, C Sorbie, M Mailo, S Paulo.

Hawks (from): S Smith, R Jackson, S Gordon, R Munday, M Davids, I Noble, K Sinclair, G Strain, J McLay, G Mcfadyen, A Dale, J Clements, M Sitch, G Francis, S Kidd, S Swindalls.

This article was posted on 4-Jan-2008, 12:21 by Hugh Barrow.