County dealt blow ahead of West test

Jan 23 2009 by Alan Rennie, Stirling Observer Friday

HELPED off the field in agony last week against Hawks, x-rays later revealed that young hooker Andy Simpson (right) suffered a broken leg.

With skipper Alex Moffat still sidelined, it means that willing workhorse John Graham is again thrown into the fray tomorrow (Saturday, kick-off 2pm).

As the opponents are West of Scotland, that puts Graham eye to eye at Burnbrae with former British Lions and Scotland skipper Gordon Bulloch.

“It was a shock to hear that Andy’s fibula was fractured,” said Stirling coach Ian Jardine. “But John Graham did well when he came on last week and he can do a job for us again.”

Jardine was unable to name a team on Tuesday night because of other injury worries.

There’s a brewing stand-off crisis with Robbie McGowan needing multiple stitches in an ear injury incurred while he was playing in a Scotland Under-20 training match on Monday against the Edinburgh back-up squad.

Jason Hill also played in that game and he was injured as well but, thankfully, he should be OK.

McGowan’s injury is compounded by the fact that Brian Archibald was hurt last week and could be struggling to be ready in time.

It’s possible, therefore, that the mercurial Allan Robertson could be handed the No 10 jersey once again this season.

A question mark also surrounds Bruce McFarlane who is sporting a massive black eye from the Hawks game. On Tuesday, his vision was still impaired.

And the coach was unable on Tuesday to confirm the availability or otherwise of County’s allocated professional players.

On the positive side, Jardine said he will be fielding a centre combination of Danny Gilmour and Ben Addison from the start for the first time. They have the ability to be match winners.

“I was really pleased by the spirit all the players showed against Hawks,” said Jardine. “But they know they have to do it all over again this week.”

The 2nd XV is also in action at Burnbrae, again with a 2pm kick-off.