Good evening,
First of all a very big thank you from everyone at New Anniesland. Firstly to so many of you for turning out two weeks ago for the game against Lasswade. It was the biggest gate for a league game at New Anniesland for many years. The players really appreciated having such an enthusiastic crowd on the touchline as it created a great atmosphere for playing rugby. They apologise for the defeat and promise better things for the remainder of the season.
Secondly a huge thank you for supporting the player sponsorship scheme. To date it has raised nearly £5000.
You will shortly receive an acknowledgement from your sponsored player and a list of sponsors will appear in the new Accies website that is due to be launched this month.
This Saturday we play bottom of the table Cambuslang at New Anniesland kick off 3pm and we are nearly back to full strength. Ali McLaren and Mike Hermes are the only regulars missing due to minor injuries. They are replaced by two exciting newcomers who I am sure will quickly make their mark.
Carl Bates is a 6'-1" stand off who is a Yorkshireman, ex Army and Rugby League player. He was outstanding in the 2nd XV's thrilling 37-17 win against Newton Stewart last Saturday. See if you can spot his tackling technique, it is typically rugby league and very effective. He is also a goal kicker which will be useful in the absence of Ali McLaren. Alan Wilson moves from stand off to scrum half to accommodate him.
In to Ali's place at full back comes Bradley Bell. He also had a fine game in the 2nd XV and impressed by scoring an excellent try. He has good hands and is a powerful runner. He once played against Accies when they were touring in North Carolina.
These players are just two of a batch of five newcomers to the Club. The others are Andrew Smart ex Academy and Hawks and James Lindsay, a graduate, who learned his rugby at Morrison's Academy.
The fifth newcomer is Kenneth Beattie, who left the Academy this summer. He is the son of Duncan Beattie and cousin of Jonnie Beattie, Glasgow Warriors and Scotland. He can play in any of the back five positions in the scrum and like his Dad is a good lineout jumper.
I am sure that you will be hearing more about these players as the season progresses and we wish them all success with the Club.
Also returning on Saturday are Steve Begley, Graeme Simpson and Jack Walker. Jack is just back from South Africa where he spent the summer playing for Hamilton RFC in Cape Town. These three will certainly add some bulk and height to the pack.
After a shaky start Coaches Donald Reid and Chas Afuakwah are confident, that with the return of so many key players, that the team will settle and make their mark on this league.
We all hope that they are right. Please come out and see them on Saturday.
If you do not wish to receive these ramblings and the match reports please advise me and I shall remove your name from the list. On the other hand if you know of anyone who would like to be kept up to date with accies Rugby information send me their email address
Team for Saturday
15    Brad Bell
14    Craig Wright
13    Jamie Doig (Capt.)
12    Stewart Smith
11    Dougie Horne
10    Carl Bates
09    Alan Wilson
01    David Calder
02    Matteo Giovanazzi 
03    Fabi Marchetti
04    Steve Begley
05    Fraser Cameron
06    Adam Howie
07    Jack Walker
08    Graeme Simpson
16   Cruz Kawakameni
17    John Fitzpatrick
18    Richard McKnight


Alasdair Graham

This article was posted on 10-Sep-2009, 21:32 by Hugh Barrow.