Scottish Rugby hosted the coach and captains of the Scottish Hydro Electric Cup, Shield, Bowl and Plate today as they made final preparations for the climax of the 2008/2009 season.
Scottish Hydro Electric Cup Finals Day, 10 May, Murrayfield Stadium
Cup final: Heriot’s v Melrose (kick-off 4pm)
Shield final: Glasgow Hawks v Peebles (kick-off 2pm)
Bowl final: Aberdeenshire v Edinburgh University (kick-off 12.15pm)
Plate final: Aberdeen University v Duns (kick-off 10.30am)
Currently placed second and third in Premier Division One, Heriot’s and Melrose will go head-to-head for the second season running (kick-off 4pm).
Last year Melrose accelerated into a 28-0 lead and, while Heriot’s staged a dramatic 24-point fight-back, the gap was too much for the Edinburgh side to reclaim and saw the cup head for the Greenyards.
Melrose captain, Scott Wight, said: “It’s the achievement of the season to run out of the tunnel in front of a large crowd. The whole town’s buzzing, we’re getting a few buses filled so hopefully Sunday will be a good day.
“Training has gone well all week, it’s been sharp. Since the league finished we've channeled all our efforts into coming to Murrayfield and defending the Cup that we won last year.
“It’d be a great achievement to win it twice in a row which has only been done once before.”
Heriot’s captain, Graham Wilson, added: “The excitement’s building and there will definitely be a few nerves but all the boys are really looking forward to it. We’ve had a good couple of weeks since the semi-final – the boys just can’t wait to be out there.”
Glasgow Hawks will face Peebles in the Shield final (kick-off 2pm) after they saw off Jed Forest in a tricky 30-20 encounter at Old Anniesland. Their Tweedside opponents made the final following a journey across the borders to Dumfries where they won 17-7 at Park Farm
Hawks’ captain and Scotland under-20 scrum-half, Peter Jericevich, said: “Obviously we were really happy to stay up in Premiership 1 this season so hopefully we’ll finish off with some silverware.
“Peebles will be tough opposition but hopefully we can turn them over and get the win. We’ve got a lot of young, fit players, and a lot of fast boys out wide so if we can get the ball to the likes of Jono Wright and Craig Gossman hopefully we can score some tries.”
Peebles’ captain and prop, Willie Aitken, added: We’re all really looking forward to Sunday. We’re all set and have had the best preparation to a game we’ve had all season so I’m sure it’ll be enjoyable.
“I keep telling myself it’ll be just another game but it’ll definitely be different coming out here in front of a big crowd – we’re well up for it.
“We’re strong in the pack and have got some great kickers and runners who’ll hopefully knock some holes in them.”
Edinburgh University made the Plate final (kick-off 12.15pm) with a league and cup double over city rivals Murrayfield Wanderers at Inverleith Park and face Aberdeenshire in the final after they saw off a visiting Ross High at the Woodside Sports Complex.
Edinburgh University number 8, Jamie Clegg, said: “It’s going to be a massive occasion for us. It’s the first time in the club’s history to play at Murrayfield Stadium.
“Hopefully we’ll bring a bit of support along, play some exciting rugby and get the crowd on their feet.”
Aberdeenshire flanker, Craig Livingston, added: “I’m a bit in awe to be honest, it’s amazing. I can’t believe I’m going to be leading Aberdeenshire out, I’ve been at the club for 10 years and it’s a great honour.
“It’s a massive occasion for the club. We’ve never come near to reaching Murrayfield before so we’ll be taking a lot supporters down with us. We’re a real community club and are looking forward to it.
“Obviously these guys [Edinburgh University] are going to be favourites. They’re three divisions higher than us, that’s the facts, but we have good young players. We’re not just a bunch of old guys who’ll stick it up the jumper and try and bully the students up front.
“We know how we want to play, we’ve got a game plan and are confident we can cause an upset.”
The Plate final will see the return of current holders Aberdeen University who made the long trip south to Volunteer Park to come away with a fine 24-19 win over Hawick Linden. They will face Duns to who eased past Dunbar 66-3 at their home ground Hardens Field (kick-off 10.30am).
Dom Dunnet, Aberdeen University back-row, said: ”It’s always a tremendous occasion coming to Murrayfield, particulalry for a student team run entirely by students.
“We’ve always had issues with boys having other commitments at the weekends and so on but it’s great to be back here and we’ll obviously be looking to lift the Plate once more.
“We’ve got a young, quick, fast team. We’ll be looking to use the ball, use our width and get some quick ball going. That seems to be our strength and the way we play rugby. We like to play exciting rugby, we like to move the ball around and we’ll be looking to that on Sunday.”
Jamie Renton, Duns captain said: "I was here ten years ago as a substitute when we won the bowl final and to come back as captain is an outstanding feeling for me.
“We’ve got a good young set of backs who know how to throw a ball about. They’re very quick. We’ve got a couple of good wingers who can do the business and our centres are outstanding tacklers and aggressive runners.”

Scottish Hydro Electric Cup Finals Day, 10 May, Murrayfield Stadium
Cup final: Heriot’s v Melrose (kick-off 4pm)
Shield final: Glasgow Hawks v Peebles (kick-off 2pm)
Bowl final: Aberdeenshire v Edinburgh University (kick-off 12.15pm)
Plate final: Aberdeen University v Duns (kick-off 10.30am)

Aberdeen University RFC
15. Tom Rattray
14. Redha Guedroudj
13. Michael Hunter
12. Paddy Traylor
11. Bret Martin
10. Euan Kelly
9. David Reekie
1. Alexander Purdie
2. Greig Ramsay
3. Finlay Hay
4 James Fearon
5. Fraser Galbraith
6. William Yates
7. Dom Dunnett (Captain)
8. Murray Wyllie
Substitutes
16. Andrew Light
17. Jack Chillas
18. Andrew Massie
19. Alex Jackson
20. Chris Hunter
21 Murray Robertson
22 Kyle Bayliss Duns RFC
Duns RFC
15. Dale Robertson
14. Kevin Aitchison
13. Danny Lamb
12. Scott Lindsay
11. David Hutchison
10. Ged Lamb
9. Marco Crolla
1. Allen Whellans
2. Cameron Hill
3. Chris Archer
4. Jacobus Van Wyk
5. James Thorburn
6. Chris Blaikie
7. Jamie Renton
8. Falaniko Pelasio
Substitutes
16. James Murphy
17. Keith Davidson
18. Richard Darling
19. Richard Burns
20. Max Nimmo
21. Barry Hamilton
22. Euan Reed

Aberdeenshire RFC
15. Michael MacLugash
14. Steve Penny
13. James Broadribb
12. Alex Moore
11. Robbie Anderson
10. Stefan Cole
9. Gary Leith
1. Andrew Sutherland
2. Shaun Mountain
3. Steven Cook
4. John Mason
5. Rory Chalmers
6. Craig Livingston (Captain)
7. Josh Selby
8. Andrew Cook
Substitutes
16. Matthew Christie
17. James Baxendale
18. Malcolm White
19. Russel Hempsey
20. Tim Condon
21. Duncan Coull
22. Mike Roulston

Edinburgh University RFC
15. Matt Bennet
14. Rick Wright
13. James McTurk
12. Tom Clarke
11. Michael Johnson
10. Ian McGhee
9. Jean-Paul Stichbury
1 Jonny Crombie
2 Adam Howie
3 Chris Corry
4 Henry White
5 Phil Lucas
6 Peter Service
7 Jacob Kenney
8. Jamie Clegg (capt)
Substitutes
16. Mathew Payne
17. Greg Douglas
18. Michael MacDonald
19. Stephen Knox
20. Jamie Doubleday
21. Ben Lyons
22. John Geddie

Glasgow Hawks RFC
15. Craig Gossman
14. Jono Wright
13. Robbie Hair
12. Gavin McDonald
11. Sean Murray
10. Ian Noble (CAPTAIN)
9. Peter Jericevich
1. Gary Strain
2. John MacLay
3. Gavin Mories
4. Nick Campbell
5. Allan Kelly
6. Mat Whittleston
7. Graham Harkness
8. Grant Strang
Substitutes
16 Joe Stafford
17 Nico Nyemba
18 Tom McGarrity
19 Greg Francis
20 Paddy Boyer
21 Mike Rainey
22 Stuart Low

Peebles RFC
15. Donald Anderson
14. David Anderson
13. Alan Smellie
12. Craig Borthwick
11. Neil Hogarth
10. Dan Boughtwood
9. Drew Moore
1. Willie Aitken (capt)
2. Ryan Mcconnell
3. Neil Clark
4. David Harvey
5. Raymond Jocelyn
6. James Oakes
7. Donald Sangster
8. David Paton
Substitutes
16. Trevor Keen
17. Adam Clark
18. Sandy Smellie
19. Ian Rodger
20. Euan Jackson
21. Neil Warnock
22. Craig Hunter

Heriot’s RC
15. Jonathan Alston
14. Graham Thomson
13. David McCall
12. Richard Mill
11. Colin Goudie
10. Oliver J Brown
9. Graham Wilson
1. Alan Dymock
2. Finlay Gillies
3. Wullie Blacklock
4 Tammas McVie
5 Matthew Reid
6. Struan Dewar
7. Chris Fusaro
8. Jamie Syme
Substitutes
16. Stewart Mustard
17. Malcolm Welch
18. Jamie Parker
19. Sandy McCutcheon
20 Brian Walls
21 Greig Rutherford
22 Andrew Douglas

Melrose RFC
15. Jordan Macey
14. Callum Anderson
13. James Lew
12. James King
11 Chris Hardie
10. Scott Wight (Captain)
9. Scott McCormick
1. Stan Williams
2. Wayne Mitchell
3. Richard Higgins
4. Graeme Dodds
5. Stuart Johnson
6. William Wallace
7. John Dalziel
8. Ross Miller
Substitutes
16. Lindsey Gibson
17. Nick Beavon
18. Andrew Gillie
19. Ross Ovens
20. Douglas Dodds
21. Alec Jessop
22. Jamie Murray
Match day information:
Admission: Adults £10; Concessions (OAP, Student and U18) £5
Turnstiles open: 9:30am
Car parking is free and is on a first come first served basis

This article was posted on 8-May-2009, 19:24 by Hugh Barrow.