SHE dreamt of playing for Scotland the moment she picked up a rugby ball for the first time aged just five.

However, Lisa Robertson, from Galashiels, revealed she could scarcely believe it when she won her first cap last year.

The prop forced her way into the starting line-up for Scotland’s recent Six Nations campaign - including a game against world champions England - after intially impressing from the bench. And, now aged 21, she has 11 caps for her country.

The former Galashiels Academy pupil, who is currently studying sports therapy at Edinburgh College, is hoping to draw on that experience when her club side, Murrayfield Wanderers, tackle Hillhead Jordanhill in the Sarah Beaney Cup final at the national stadium on Saturday, April 18 - kick-off 3.30pm.

The two sides have already met twice in the BT Women’s Premier League this season with the Wands winning both times to top the table, a place ahead of their title rivals, to be crowned champions.

However, with only a single score separating them in each match, neither side is taking anything for granted.

Looking forward to the Cup Final, Lisa told the Border Telegraph: “It will be a really tough game. It will be a good game because we’re the two top teams in Prem One and when we played them in the league we only just beat them, it’s been so close, it’s not been a walkover.

“When I first started playing rugby I thought I will play for Scotland at some point and then when I got my first call up last year I thought: 'This isn’t real!’ But it is. It’s hard work. It’s much harder this season than it was last year, because the competition is there.” Nevertheless, she added: “The Six Nations was amazing. It was so much better than last year because there was a different morale in camp, we felt we were ready to compete against the other nations.” Scotland Women’s team finished bottom of the table after losing all five of their games.

However, there were signs of progress for the only amateur team in the competition, having kept the scoreline against world champions England to a respectable 42-13, having lost the same fixture 63-0 the year before.

“At the start of the season I set a goal to start one game,” Lisa explained. “I thought I’d be really happy to get one start because last year I got no starts. And when the team selection came out against the Italians I was like: 'Oh my God, I’m starting!

“I got 15 minutes in the first game against France, 25 against Wales and then that led me on to my start. I couldn’t actually believe I was starting and when the game (against Italy) kicked off it took me a wee while to get into it because I wasn’t used to starting. In open play I had a good game but in the set piece I didn’t feel it went so well.” But she added: “I managed to keep my spot for that game and then when the England game came along I started again. Last year they scored lots of points against us and this year they didn’t score half what they scored then, and we actually scored points this year, which was progress.” It was only in the final game against Ireland that Lisa found her favourite position. And, despite Scotland losing that game 73-3, she is hopeful she has done enough to keep her place in the national set-up.

“I’ve got 11 caps for Scotland now and I only got my first cap last year,” Lisa said. “When we were training for the last game against Ireland we decided to mix it up a wee bit and have a go at different positions and when I was at 3 the scrum felt better and I felt more confident, as that’s my favourite position.” Lisa, a former UK under-17 shot putt champion who has represented Scotland in the sport at under-17 and under-20 levels, took up rugby after she went along to watch her three brothers training and wanted to join in. She worked her way through the pathway from under-15 to under-20 and made her international debut in 2013/14, the same season she helped Murrayfield Wanderers last win the Sarah Beaney Cup.

Her older brother, Craig, played for Scotland Club XV and younger brother, Gary, played for Scotland under-20s - both play for Gala. Lisa’s dad is a referee as is older brother, Greg.

Now Lisa is leading by example and next month returns to Gala to help coach other girls hoping to following in her footsteps at the Gala May-hem camp (See this week’s Netherdale News).

And, while traditionally seen as a boys game, the former Mini Maroon revealed she would recommend the sport to all girls.

Lisa said: “When I first took up rugby I was probably five or six, only because my big brother was there and I wanted to do what he was doing. It’s a great way to get rid of stress.

“Everybody I have met through rugby is really friendly. It might look rough and ready but I’ve met friends for life through rugby - in Wales, Ireland and Italy.

“I started out at Minis and came right the way up.” And she added: “After Easter I’ve been asked to help coach youngsters at Netherdale as they are trying to encourage more girls at primary level to get involved in rugby.” The Borders interest in Cup Finals Day at Murrayfield on Saturday begins at 1.15pm when St Boswells tackle GHK in the BT Shield - both sides are currently unbeaten this season; that is followed at 3.30pm by Murrayfield Wanderers match with Hillhead Jordanhill; and then, at 5.45pm, Hawick take on a Boroughmuir side, which boasts former Gala player Craig Keddie and is coached by former Maroon Bruce Aitchison, in the BT Cup.