Border Telegraph | Sport | Business resumes

Friday, 5th December, 2008

Published: Wednesday, 4th January, 2006 10:00

Business resumes

By Border Telegraph Sport

BORDERS clubs hope to cash in on their own league competition when national business resumes on Saturday.

Gala, Melrose and Selkirk were all due to be involved in Border League business over the festive period in games which helped to keep the players match fit.

`I think that players would rather play than just train,` said Melrose president Jimmy Doyle.

`We were fortunate to able to play Gala on Boxing Day and that gives the players the chance to play in a competitive match.`

Melrose were also due to play Selkirk yesterday, Tuesday, at The Greenyards.

Meanwhile, the former SRU club man, John Thorburn, now the Border Reivers' business manager, believes that clubs should be playing on, for example, Christmas Eve.

Mr Thorburn, who was watching Selkirk Youth Club playing Hawick PSA at Netherdale on December 24, said: `Clubs could be playing today.`

With the weather remaining a continual threat until the end of February, clubs could still be looking at stand-by dates to fulfil all their fixtures.

Melrose will be hoping that Hartreemill is playable when they head to Biggar on Saturday to face Gary Parker's men, who will be looking to build on their success of last season.

Melrose will be without lock Scott Aitken, who has retired - three years later than he intended to do so.

`He has been a great servant to the club and we were grateful to get three more years out of him,` said Mr Doyle.

Aitken has called time on his playing career due to work and family commitments.

`But I hope he will in the future pass on some of his experience to our younger players.`

Hawick, the side that many tipped for relegation, have been a formidable force under Jim Hay, and this weekend entertain Watsonians at Mansfield Park.

Watsonians are the main challengers behind Glasgow Hawks, but Cammie Mather's men know that Hawick will show no respect for reputations.

In Division 2, Borders clubs are playing second fiddle to city sides, but that will not detract from a real old local derby at Netherdale where Gala host Jed-Forest.

The Maroons have blown hot and cold this season under the new management team of Paul Di Rollo and Dave Cockburn.

With their Border League hopes dented by defeat to Melrose on Boxing Day, pride is all that remains in the league while they will be looking for a run in the cup to salvage something from a disappointing season.

Selkirk, after a double over Gala, will use their Border League clash with Melrose to prepare for a tricky journey to Edinburgh Accies, now under the Hawick coaching team of Ian Barnes, Jim Renwick and Ken McCartney.

But if any side deserves a change in fortune, it is St Boswells, who with over 1000 points against and a number of 100 plus points' defeats deserve a break.

Rugby pundits are amazed at home that the club has survived. On Saturday, Waysiders Drumpellier are the visitors to Jenny Moore's Road.

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