Preparing for Hawks' test

Jan 7 2009 by Alan Rennie, Stirling Observer Wednesday

THE race is on to get Stirling County skipper Alex Moffat fit for the relegation dogfight against Glasgow Hawks in 10 days’ time.

The popular and influential hooker has been ruled out of this week’s friendly match at Bridgehaugh against Premiership Three side Hillhead-Jordanhill (kick-off 2pm), writes Alan Rennie.

An old groin injury flared up again just before Christmas while he was training in Edinburgh as County’s only representative in the Scotland Clubs International squad.

County have arranged a friendly this week to get some much-needed match practice after the festive break. Entry for fans is free.

Saturday should have been a cup match for Stirling but the third-round tie between County’s opponents, Cambuslang or Lenzie, was called off due to an unplayable pitch on December 20.

They will try again this Saturday with the winners now hosting County in the fourth round on February 14.

Glasgow Hawks’ scheduled cup opponents were similarly beaten by the weather last year so Hawks have re-arranged their outstanding home league match against Boroughmuir for this Saturday.

It’s an unpalatable thought for Bridgehaugh fans but Hawks will be hoping that Boroughmuir have over-indulged at Xmas and they can open up a seven-point gap on County.

At the moment, the bottom three placings are as follows: Hawick 20 pts from 15 games, County 23 from 16, Hawks 25 from 15.

Better news from the County camp this week is that a number of the walking wounded are in good fettle again. Raring to go this Saturday will be Robbie McGowan, Bruce McFarlane, Graham Calder, Jason Hill and Craig Deacons.

And Ian Jardine is also hoping that there will be others back in full training and into contention this week, including Wilba Davies, Tim Clarke and possibly even Ben Addison.

Work commitments in England have put the kybosh on his rugby career this season but he’s back home in Falkirk at the moment and Jardy is hoping to persuade the former Scotland 7s star to come back in County’s hour of need.

County have also re-arranged a 2nd XV league match this Saturday (kick-off also 2pm) against Aberdeen GSFP. And the 3rd XV are away to Strathmore.

Forwards coach Jocky Bryce may be casting an eye over to the 2nd XV pitch.

In skipper Moffat’s absence, there will be much interest in the performances of other Bridgehaugh hookers such as Andy Simpson, John Graham and last season’s under-18 skipper Craig Adams.

Saturday’s 1st XV game will be no stroll in the park as the Hill-Hills are challenging strongly for promotion this season. They’ll be keen to start 2009 with a First Division scalp.

See Friday’s edition for the latest Stirling County team news as well as Tom Yuill’s coverage of Strathendrick RFC.

STIRLING County Under 18’s start the new year with a Caledonia league fixture against Perthshire this Saturday with a 1pm kick-off at Bridgehaugh.

The County youngsters will hope to emulate the form that they showed the last time the teams met in the third round of the National Youth cup with the Stirling side demolishing the Perth team in a one-sided affair.

With the National Youth Cup semi-final only two weeks away, this will be an opportunity for some of the fringe players to stake a claim for the starting 15.