Thistle count themselves out of super league action

Talks about shaping a more competitive top tier of youth rugby at Under-16 and U-18 levels are, it is understood, still ongoing but it seems likely that Borders clubs, Hawick and Melrose, will join clubs such as Ayr/wellington, Stirling County and Boroughmuir in a higher level conference.

GHA, who’ll contest the final of the Youth League U-18 Cup against this season’s top Borders youth side, Jed Thistle, would also be a club worthy of joining a top-tier league. Certainly their results and the numbers they are attracting to Braidholm indicate a readiness to join the top clubs.

It might be thought that given Jed Thistle’s success this term they would be automatic candidates for a super league.

The club’s retiring development officer, Kevin Barrie, however, thinks that it would be difficult for the Jedburgh club.

He said: “We couldn’t do the same as Melrose and Hawick because we don’t have the consistency from year to year because of numbers. Jed Grammar School’s roll is now just under 300.”

Referring to the disturbingly high number of games that did not go ahead this year because clubs were unable to raise full teams, Barrie added: “There’s a lot of no-shows, so you can understand why Melrose and Hawick want different fixtures.”

Barrie thinks that without Hawick and Melrose the remaining Border clubs should look elsewhere for fixtures.

He said: “The semi-junior league [over 100 years old] has been bringing in the likes of Carlisle and Morpeth. Would it not be better if we looked at a grouping of East Lothian and the Borders?”

Another club anxious to retain its current league status is Highland. “[Youth] Players are far more ready to step up to senior rugby than a decade ago when we were isolated in terms of who we played,” said U-18s coach John Carson.

“The last thing we need is to go back to just playing in the Caley North.”