By BILL LOTHIAN
WATSONIAN coach Bruce Aitchison is challenging utility back Mike McKee to use the Scottish Hydro Premiership as a platform for extending his international career with Hong Kong – starting in Saturday's home clash with Glasgow Hawks.
McKee, 23, a product of Watson's College, returned to his roots from the Far East this season having aspired to cap status.

And, after a successful debut on the wing from off the bench in Saturday's win at Edinburgh Accies, coach Aitchison hopes the player will kick on, saying: "Hong Kong have a European tour lined up for December featuring matches against the Netherlands and the Czech Republic as well as a training camp in Germany.

"I know the Hong Kong coach Dai Rees pretty well from my own time out there and Mike's performances with Watsonians will be monitored.

"It is our aim to do everything possible to help Mike maintain his international connections even if it means our resources are further stretched."

These are difficult times for 'Sonians, for whom centre Ben Di Rollo became the latest long-term casualty when helped from the field with knee damage at Accies, prompting McKee's call up.

Aitchison said: "It is doubtful whether Ben will be able to turn out for us again this season as he will probably need surgery.

"It's a huge shame because having started at stand-off and then dropping out he won back his place at centre and had been doing well."

Also missing will be last week's try scorer Stuart McInally, who is training with the Scotland Commonwealth Games sevens squad but flanker Michael Fedo and prop Kian Coertze are on the point of returning.

Also, Ryan Martin settled in well on his stand-off debut after arriving from New Zealand, Aitchison remarking: "Ryan showed he can run a game and his arrival has freed up Mike Ker to cover the full-back role."

Ker is 'Sonians top scorer and another batch of points will be required if 'Sonians are to achieve their primary goal of disrupting a bizarre sequence of results.

"So far this season we have won our three away games at West, Heriot's and Edinburgh Accies. However, this has been undermined in losing all three home games against Ayr, Currie and Boroughmuir."

This article was posted on 8-Oct-2009, 10:09 by Hugh Barrow.