Glasgow Warriors and the Glasgow Academy joined forces at the famous school today to back the teams’ attempts to complete a west of Scotland cup double.

Former pupil and Glasgow Warriors player Johnnie Beattie attended the school to make the draw for the quarter-final of the Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Cup along-side the school’s under-18 team captain and Scotland under-18s player Robert McAlpine - the pair then teamed up with the rest of the school to show joint support for their up and coming Bell Lawrie and David Lloyd 1872 cup matches.
THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS

Beattie draws up battle lines in fight for recall to Scotland squad




By David Kelso
JOHNNIE Beattie yesterday underlined his determination to use Glasgow's Boxing Day battle against Edinburgh as a springboard to a Scotland comeback.
The breakaway forward will line up against their arch rivals at Murrayfield in the first tussle of the festive Magners League double-header.

Apart from wanting to help the Warriors cement their second place in the table, Beattie will be on a perADVERTISEMENT

sonal mission to prove he should be back in Frank Hadden's national set-up for the start of the Six Nations campaign.

He said: "People always talk of these Christmas and New Year matches as being unofficial Scotland trials and that is exactly how I intend to treat the Murrayfield encounter – and the one at Firhill on 2 January.

"I have to be honest and admit that the past few months have not gone to plan for me as regards involvement in the national squad – so I know I have quite a bit of work to do if I am to be in the Six Nations picture.

"My last cap was the opening Test in Argentina at the end of last season and it was a massive disappointment when I wasn't even included in the Scotland training group who went to Spain before the autumn internationals.

"I have had setbacks like that before and they just make you all the more focussed and determined to get back.

"The Glasgow coaches Sean Lineen, Shade Munro and Gary Mercer have been very supportive, telling me what I need to do to have a chance of a recall.

"And the games against Edinburgh will be my opportunity to put down a marker."

Beattie added: "Every professional wants to be playing at the highest possible level and I am no exception. I would love to be involved in the Six Nations – but I also know it will take a massive effort on my part."

Beattie, meanwhile, took a break from big match preparations yesterday to return to his rugby roots at Glasgow Academy.

He was at his old school to help current Academy 1st XV skipper Robert McAlpine make the draw for the quarter-finals of the Bell Lawrie Under-18 Scottish Schools Cup.

They obliged by giving them a home tie against Heriot's or Dundee High – if they win their delayed tussle with Boroughmuir High and then beat North Berwick High.

Bell Lawrie Schools Scottish Cup: Quarter-finals: Under-18s: Fettes v Dollar or Marr, Merchiston or Gordonstoun v Watson's or Robert Gordon's, North Berwick or Boroughmuir or Glasgow Acad v Heriot's or Dundee HS, Stewart's-Melville v Morrison's or Bell Baxter or Hutchesons. Under-15s: Heriot's v Watson's, Stewart's-Melville v Edinburgh Academy, Galashiels or Banchory or Kinross v Glasgow Acad or North Berwick, Hutchesons or Musselburgh or Robert Gordon's v Glasgow HS. Ties due before 28 January.

This article was originally posted on 18-Dec-2008, 20:57 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 19-Dec-2008, 08:14.