Published: Wednesday, 7th May, 2008 12:00
Tough one to call, admits Melrose captain
By Atholl Innes
Comments (0)
Print Article
MELROSE captain Jamie Murray admitted: “It is a difficult one to call.”
Murray was responding a difficult question after he had led his club to victory over Heriot’s in the Scottish Hydro Electric Cup final on Saturday at Murrayfield.
‘What was best, winning the cup final or being Melrosian?’
“I am hugely proud. It was an outstanding performance. We all stuck in. It makes me proud to play with those guys.
“We wanted to do it for John (Dalziel) and Kieran (Cooney), and the win was as much for them as it was for anyone else.”
Murray also agreed, in the face of the cup possibly being dumped next season that it should continue.
“We have produced some consistent results and it has enabled us to bring some silverware home.
“I think that it has a place in Scottish club rugby.”
Coach Craig Chalmers admitted: “I totally agree. I can understand what they (clubs) are saying about the travelling and such like, but there are ways of doing it and I will leave that to the powers that be.
“Maybe regionalise the qualifying and the last 16, but the cup definitely has a place in Scottish rugby.
“It would be sad to see it go and we agree that it is a worthwhile competition.
“We also see this win as a springboard for next season, but we also have a hard Border League game against Jed (tonight, Tuesday), but we also want to win that as well.”
Man-of-the Match Scott Wight, who kicking helped Melrose to life the cup, said he had a ‘trial’ the previous night.
“We had a couple of kicks at goal and at touch. That did make a difference, having a feel for it.”
“It was hard on us. We are all club boys and train off our own back. The community spirit was great and you get to know each other week in, week out.”
But the questions asked of the No. 10 were: ‘What about a professional career and the possibility of moving out the country.
“Yes, you want to play in Scotland, and you have to breakthrough, you have to do it if you want to play rugby at the highest level.
“But you can’t just say, ‘I am going to turn professional. You have to have the orders there to decide what you want to do.
“There is nothing there just now, and so I will just play it by the day.”
The close on 6000 crowd was an eye-opener for the pro teams, who have not had a crowd like that this season.
After the final, the players made their way back to The Greenyards for a party where the Player of the Year was announced as Bill Wallace.
The Australian, a former member of the Waratah Academy and Australian Barbarians, is expected to return next season.
Melrose were back in Border League action last night, Tuesday, as they went for a further trophy.
“We will be how the boys are, but we want to win,” said Chalmers.
They faced Jed-Forest at Riverside Park to decide who will meet Selkirk in the final on Monday at Poynder Park at 7.30 p.m.
That game is also expected to draw a big crowd.
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Further Details
'I'm proud of where I come from' says Rangers star