County set for another hard shift

Dec 12 2008 by Alan Rennie, Stirling Observer Friday

THE County coaches would have loved to have said “same again” when naming the team to face Currie at Bridgehaugh tomorrow (Saturday, kick-off 3pm).

But it’s not to be. Changes are certain but just how many won’t be known until after last night’s (Thursday’s) training.

Definitely out are winger Graham Lindsay, a league ever-present this season who is on a work-related weekend course, and flanker Aca Ratuva, who has gone home to Fiji.

Lock Bruce McFarlane took a heavy knock last week and is doubtful while, on Tuesday night, question marks surrounded the availability of professional duo Roland Reid and John Houston.

That was partly answered on Wednesday afternoon when Houston was named in the Edinburgh squad to travel to London Wasps this Sunday but Reid wasn’t.

Long-term absentee Tim Clarke played a full 80 minutes for the 2nd XV last Saturday but he’s still some way short of Premiership One fitness.

Through at Malleny Park in the first half of the season, County ground out a 13-13 draw with Currie but the Balerno outfit come to Stirling having beaten Selkirk and then Boroughmuir in their previous two outings.

However, their game against Edinburgh Accies last Saturday was postponed so the impetus from those wins may have been diluted.

The County fans and players have been on cloud nine this week after the astonishing comeback victory at Goldenacre but selection convener Johnny Wright had these words of warning.

“Thrilling as it was,” he said, “we won't be able to make comebacks like that all the time. We need to put in a full 80-minute shift.”