Scots eyeing rapid start in bid to claw back deficit
IRELAND CLUB XV
V SCOTLAND CLUB XV
Dalriada Cup, second leg Energia Park, Donnybrook, Dublin
Today, 5.45pm
Scotland’s Club XV players are determined to get off to a faster start than they did seven days ago when they take on their Irish counterparts in Dublin in the second leg of the Dalriada Cup today.
The Irish came out of the blocks flying in the first leg at Gala’s Netherdale ground and were 17-0 up in the first half before the home side got a foothold in the match.
It means that Ireland are 39-17 up and have one hand on the trophy unless the Scots can win by more than 22 points at Energia Park.
The visitors will be giving it everything they have got, though, and Selkirk’s Ewan Macdougall, who starts at No 8, said: “It was frustrating not to have got off to a better start last week, but the Irish forwards were big, physical units and in the early exchanges we found it difficult to secure enough possession. I’d say the end scoreline probably wasn’t a true reflection of how close the contest was. We’re looking forward to this second game.”
With Edinburgh Accies’ Jamie Sole missing with a concussion, Nathaniel Coe of Aberdeen Grammar starts at six for Scotland with Currie Chieftains’ Rhys Davies called up to cover the back-row from the bench.
Also in the pack, the experienced Glasgow Hawks’ man Gary Strain is in at tighthead prop. Marr’s Calvin Henderson reverts to the bench. Teenager Andrew Mitchell from Hawick gets a start at 13 after doing well off the bench last week. SCOTLAND CLUB XV
Grant Mollison (GHA); Scott Bickerstaff (Marr), Andrew Mitchell (Hawick), Conor Bickerstaff (Marr), Callum Young (Jed-forest); Aaron Mccolm (Selkirk), Gregor Christie (Currie); Shawn Muir (Hawick), Fergus Scott (capt; Currie), Gary Strain (Glasgow Hawks), Mike Vernel (Currie), Gregor Law (Jed-forest), Nathaniel Coe (Aberdeen Grammar), Wallace Nelson (Currie), Ewan Macdougall (Selkirk). Substitutes: Matt Carryer (Hawick), William Farquhar (Marr), Calvin Henderson (Marr), Robin Cessford (Aberdeen Grammar), Rhys Davies (Currie), Patrick Boyer (Glasgow Hawks), Colin Sturgeon (Marr), Steven Hamilton (Currie).