EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS

By BILL LOTHIAN
Boroughmuir are pinning their hopes on full back prospect Harris Jones recovering from illness to help them try to bring down Premiership A leaders Melrose at Meggetland tomorrow.
The Capital outfit, with scrum half Ross Samson and prop Jack Gilding made available by Edinburgh Rugby, have high hopes for ex-Merchiston Castle pupil Jones.

Earlier this season, he was part of an enlarged Scottish under-20 squad that also included up-and-coming 'Muir players Nick Fraser, Harry Leonard and Robin Hislop.

Skipper Malcolm Clapperton said: "Harris is a real flying machine who just gets better with every outing."

Clapperton is calling for a late surge up the table in the hope of landing a place in next season's British and Irish Cup and undoubtedly the acquisition of Samson will help as he has three tries from four outings at club level this term.

'There are rumours that the number of Scottish teams involved could increase from three depending on English involvement," he said, adding: "We've seen the benefits to Melrose, Currie, Heriot's and Ayr and would love to be entered. First we have to make amends for a sore defeat at Melrose earlier in the season.

"As always they'll be served by a strong back row including Jon Dalziel and Graham Dodds coming off the set-pieces and running down the stand off channel."

Another to watch for could be experienced hooker Wayne Mitchell who, in the corresponding fixture which 'Rose won 49-11, claimed the try which set a new scoring record among the club's forwards.

Clapperton feels 'Muir have improved since crashing to defeat at Melrose.

"Last week's friendly with Glamorgan was a useful exercise as we managed to use 25 players, including reserves, who put their hands up for promotion. And although beaten (31-20) at Ayr the previous weekend, that was probably our best performance so far as it was two late tries which separated the sides."

Currie, unbeaten in their last five domestic outings, entertain Dundee High on a day when a string of regulars return from injury or representative duty.

Tom Brown, James Johnstone, Hayden Abercrombie, Andy MacMahon, Richard Snedden, John Cox, Finlay Gillies, Ryan Wilson and Mike Entwhistle are all back in the starting line up after missing last week's Scottish Cup win at Howe of Fife. Additionally, Mark Cairns and James Eddie are on the bench.

Currie remain fourth, outwith the existing B & I Cup places, and coach Ally Donaldson commented: "We drew (35-35) earlier with Dundee and will have to be better to get full points."

Dundee will be without top try scorer James Fleming (11 for this season) who damaged knee ligaments against Australia on sevens duty for Scotland in Las Vegas.

Coach Ian Rankin noted: "We face a team that includes four backs and two forwards involved recently in the Scotland Club International game against France . . . motivation indeed!"

Dundee had three players in that squad.

Heriot's face a home assignment against title-chasing Glasgow Hawks.

While Heriot's' squad details are unavailable, Glasgow full back Colin Shaw reinforces Hawks and coach Peter Wright said: "With Heriot's looking to bounce back after a poor result against Currie in their last league outing, this is going to be another tough physical encounter."

In Premier B, Edinburgh Accies entertain Watsonians, with whom they lie joint third just three points ahead of Aberdeen Grammar in the battle to finish top four and re-join the elite.

There is a first start for Accies South African prop Senzo Ngubane while youngsters Callum Reid (flanker) and James Reid (scrum half) face their biggest test at club level.

Watsonians have club internationalist Dougie Brown back on the wing after missing most of the season, while centre Tom Hart has joined from Fylde where he was playing inside cross-code legend Jason Robinson.

Accies' website could not be accused of understating the importance of what will be the club's first home fixture for 14 weeks. "To find that we are playing Watsonians on Saturday, and Aberdeen the following week, means that the four promotion spots for Premier 1 should be decided over these two weeks. It's no exaggeration to say that the next two weekends are defining for the (club's) future."

This article was posted on 18-Feb-2011, 13:55 by Hugh Barrow.