The Scotsman reveals

Published Date: 25 March 2011
By David Ferguson
CURRIE coach Ally Donaldson has been critical of what he perceives to be SRU intransigence that could hamper his side's bid for a first Scottish Cup title, but remains confident that his team still has the ability to derail Melrose's double target at Malleny Park tomorrow.
A 34-21 victory away to Hawick last week propelled Currie into the cup semi-finals where they meet a Borders side that overcame Heriot's 39-24 on Sunday. On-form Melrose have appeared in the last three cup finals, but last won in 2008 and remain in the running for a league and cup double this season. Currie are ten points behind leaders Melrose in the league, but have a game in hand, while Glasgow Hawks are five points behind.

However, this week Donaldson is missing James Johnstone and Finlay Gillies, in Hong Kong with the Scotland Sevens team, Tom Brown and hooker Alun Walker, who are on the bench for Edinburgh's match with the Ospreys at Murrayfield tomorrow, and also have stand-off Andrew Binikos playing for Cyprus against Finland, and Mark Cairns and Richard Snedden are injury doubts. Steve Burton and Fraser Strachan are on stand-by to replace Cairns and Snedden if one or either fail to pass fitness tests.

The club had hoped to gain dispensation to postpone this game due to having three players on international duty and two needed by the pro team, but with Currie still having three away games to play between now and 30 April, and cup matches to fit in, the SRU declined the request.

"We were refused as 'there were no grounds for dispensation'," said Donaldson, "despite a precedent being set earlier in the season when ourselves and Ayr were given dispensation for a group stage cup match on a Club International weekend.

"We would have liked to have been closer full strength, but we just have to get on with the situation. It should be a great club match between two very good teams, and we're hopeful of attracting a big crowd to Malleny."

Donaldson retired from playing in 2000 and after coaching the Currie 2nd XV for three seasons took over with the 1st XV in 2003-4 and, working closely with Graham Hogg, has been instrumental in leading the Balerno club's push to the top of the club game in Scotland.

Donaldson has steered Currie to their first two championships, in the past four years, and the Scottish Cup final where Currie lost to Watsonians, and while so far overlooked for a professional role with the Edinburgh and Glasgow squads he will make a move next season in his day job in taking over from Andrew Ker as 1st XV coach at George Watson's College.

Currently the school's director of rugby, the former Scotland A stand-off insisted that the new role will not deflect from his commitment to Currie, nor will his club involvement make any difference to his role at the heart of the school's rugby.

This article was originally posted on 25-Mar-2011, 08:11 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 25-Mar-2011, 08:13.