Kirkcaldy go into last-eight tie on a high

After what has been a fallow month so far in February due to Scotland’s two home games in the Six Nations, Kirkcaldy and Perthshire find themselves back in action this weekend in different competitions.

With Lasswade having conceded their tie in the previous round, Kirkcaldy now find themselves in the quarter-final of the National League Cup and take on Kelso at Poynder Park.

The league encounters between the two give little indication of who will start favourites. The clash at Beveridge Park in September finished 41-14 in Kirkcaldy’s favour but when they travelled to the Borders for the return in December they squandered a 10-0 lead in fairly controversial circumstances Tomorrow’s fixtures (cup games kick-off 2.30pm, league matches 3pm) –Tennents National League Division 3: Perthshire v Ardrossan Accies.

Tennents Caledonia Division 1: Ellon v Dunfermline, Harris FP v Alloa.

Tennents Caledonia Division 2 (Midlands): Madras v Blairgowrie.

Tennents Caledonia Division 3 (Midlands): Arbroath v Crieff and Strathearn.

Tennents Caledonia Division 4 (Midlands): Montrose v Bo’ness, Bannockburn v Stobswell, Glenrothes 2nd v Perthshire 2nd.

National League Cup quarterfinals: Kelso v Kirkcaldy.

Caledonia Regional Shield Final: Grangemouth v Strathmore. to go down 22-10. On current form, Kirkcaldy can travel hopefully having won their last league match against Hamilton 27-24 to take them level in the league with Cartha Queen’s Park on 26 points and trailing Hamilton by three with a game in hand over both.

They face Marr in a rescheduled match on February 23 as they look to climb up the table.

As it is, they have a couple of longterm injured almost ready to come back but it may be that they will be kept back for the trip to Troon rather than risk injury in the Kelso game in the Borders.

Kelso have blown hot and cold so far, a bit like Kirkcaldy, but come off a 21-13 loss on their own patch at the hands of Gala so this one could be too close to call although home advantage might just be the clincher.

Fourth-placed in Tennents National 3, Ardrossan Accies pitch up at North Inch to fulfil the previously postponed game against a Perthshire side who are only two places behind them in the league – but with a gap between the two of a substantial 23 points.

Ardrossan took the spoils at Memorial Field in the first game of the season with a comfortable 45-3 win.

But with Perthshire not having to look over their shoulder at the drop zone, they can hopefully relax and enjoy this one – particularly since they are coming off wins over Haddington and HillheadJordanhill in their last two outings to boost their confidence.