GLASGOW High/Kelvinside have been an enigma this season, blowing hot
and cold in the McEwan's national league. Their results away from home
have not matched those at Old Anniesland.
They have had substantial wins against Heriot's and Dundee as well as
upsetting Jed-Forest's championship chase, all three at home, whereas
they have lost the four games they have played furth of Anniesland.
Today, completing an imbalanced autumn league programme, they are off
on their travels again, visiting Malleny Park, seeking their first win
over Currie in four championship matches between the clubs as well as
endeavouring to break their season's pattern.
Not only is history against GHK, but they have lost two of their
regular forwards, Andy Ness, the Scotland under-21 captain, and Graham
McKee. Donald Macleod, the Scottish Rugby Union's medical adviser, has
recommended Ness to rest from rugby for three weeks to allow a back
injury to clear, and McKee has a leg cut that has turned septic.
GHK have rejigged their back row in the young wing forward's absence,
with the Wallace brothers on the flanks and Dominic Mellor returning at
No.8. David Borland takes over from McKee at tight head.
Currie have defined their pack by keeping to the back five who
finished in the win over Heriot's. Ian Russell, replacement for Alan
Elms in the Goldenacre match, therefore stays on at wing forward. Currie
and GHK are in a mid-table group along with Hawick, Kelso, and
Watsonians, six points adrift of the joint leaders, Melrose and Gala,
and four clear of the bottom pair, Heriot's and Dundee.
Neither of the extremes should alter even though Gala have to take on
their age-old rivals, Hawick. Gala's record in that series is far from
impressive, with only three national league wins to set against a draw
and 14 defeats. All three, though, were at Mansfield Park, as is this
afternoon's match.
Also, Hawick have not had their troubles to seek with Tony Stanger and
Nick Bannerman pulling out of the threequarter line. Jock Mallin
replaces Stanger, the international wing who has had a back injury, and
Gregor Sharp transfers to centre in place of Bannerman with David Gray
returning at full back.
Craig Chalmers has recovered from last week's leg bruising more
quickly than expected. The international stand-off will be in his
accustomed role against Heriot's at the Greenyards, and the champions
surely will not fall in a match that marks the official opening of the
#230,000 extension to their clubhouse. Nor should Edinburgh Academicals
lose at home to Dundee, who will be without Andy Nicol and Guthrie
Batchelor.
Two capped players, Rob Wainwright and Alex Moore, return for
Academicals. Wainwright has been troubled by an inflamed Achilles
tendon, and Moore has been on a police training course. Ford Swanson
switches to centre both to accommodate the international wing and to
cover for the injured Rowen Shepherd.
Carl Hogg returns for Melrose after injury, Andrew Redpath giving way
to the international flanker, and Jed also restore back-row regulars,
with Kevin Liddle and Kevin Armstrong returning against Selkirk at
Riverside Park.
Selkirk can at last give David Graham his debut as hooker. He was
pulled out of the team against Gala last week because he had already
played for Melrose this season, and it was not until this week that the
Border League gave permission for his switch.
Stirling County will be without Stewart Hamilton for the Bridgehaugh
match against Kelso, and Ken Logan is doubtful because of his father's
death. Jimmy Norval, joining brother Malcolm in the second row,
deputises for Hamilton, who has a knee injury, and Kelso have had to
recast their threequarter line, with Stewart Lang returning on the left
wing and Scott Tait switching to centre in place of Ewan Common, who has
hamstring damage.
David McVey, Stirling's unfortunate Glasgow flanker, will not, after
all, be returning to rugby in the second XV today. After an
ankle-ligament injury he has now hurt a wrist.
Jon Price has again dropped out of Boroughmuir's pack. Gerry Dryburgh
stands in at lock for the short journey to Myreside.
Watsonians have had to make no fewer than four changes in personnel,
including calling on Roddy McLeod (the Australian) at outside centre and
Roddy McLeod (the Scot) at prop. The Antipodean takes over as Scott
Hastings has a slight leg muscle pull. Riki Cowan and David Lochore
return respectively at left wing and No.8, with Scott Aitken switching
to lock.
Finally, spare a thought for Bob Easson and his son, Bryan, as they
think ahead to the Raeburn Place match. When they arrive they will head
for different dressing rooms -- Bob as Academicals' backs coach, Bryan
to play for Dundee.
* THE Scottish region of the Women's Rugby Football Union hold their
international trial at Burnbrae this afternoon (12.30). Matches follow
against England's North-west at Waterloo on Sunday, November 29, and the
North-east at Headingley two weeks later.
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