Cup thriller on the cards

Apr 8 2009 by Alan Rennie, Stirling Observer Wednesday

COUNTY head for the capital tonight (Wednesday) hoping to reach the last eight of the Scottish Hydro Electric Cup.

Standing in their way are Edinburgh Accies and it should be another thriller (kick-off 6.30pm).

There’s not much between the two sides as was shown in the previous two games in the league this season.

Accies pipped County 29-25 at Raeburn Place while Stirling managed a fine 31-13 win at Bridgehaugh.

County are close to full strength apart from Craig Deacons (on honeymoon) and Graham Calder (attending family wedding).

The team is as follows: Robbie McGowan; Graham Lyndsay, Ben Addison, Stevie Wilson, Ross Aitken; Brian Archibald, Gordon McRorie; Mark Hunter, Alex Moffat, Garry Mountford, Bruce McFarlane, Grant Gilchrist, Colin Eadie, Tim Clarke and Jason Hill.

With only four subs permitted in cup games, on the bench are Johnny Graham, Ross Logan, Kevin Bryce and Gregor Brodie.

County switched training to Monday night this week and coach Ian Jardine gave the players some special tackling drills, an area where he felt County were weak against Boroughmuir.

Victory tonight will give County another away tie in the quarter final at Poynder Park against Selkirk on Saturday, April 18.

County will be represented in the world-famous Melrose Sevens at The Greenyards this Saturday. Play starts at 12.45pm.

They have been drawn in the second round against Barrhaven Scottish of Ottowa, the first guest club from Canada to have been invited.

Homage will be paid on Saturday to Fiji sevens legend Waisale Serevi, playing in what may be his last-ever competitive tournament.

See Friday’s edition for details of the sevens squad, coached this season by Graeme Young, as well as the Accies cup report.