A Good Weekend For Scottish Rugby

THIS has been a huge weekend for rugby, both domestically and in Europe – it will be good to get into the 6Nations and take a break.

Isn't it good to sit back and consider, both of our full-time professional sides are through to the last eight of the Heineken Cup, with Edinburgh gilding the lily somewhat by topping their pool to set-up a home quarter-final, as things stand, probably against Munster. Glasgow seem certain, unless Toulouse slip-up at home to Bath, to be looking at a return to the Allianz to again face Saracens in their quarter-final.

What a blow for the big-money English Gallacher Premiership. All that moaning and complaining, all that politicking, to get the rules changes so those lesser nations such as Scotland didn't have such an easy ride when it came to European qualification, and what happens – both Scottish teams qualify, while only one English side gets through to the last eight.

And with a final eight comprising, three Irish sides, two Scottish sides, two French sides and only one English one – you have to ask, what good is all that money doing the Gallacher Premiership and the Top 14? What benefit are they getting from all that hoovering-up of talent from around the world, when the poor relations from the frozen north can get just as good results in Europe, or a lot less money?

I can see the RFU demanding further rule changes so more English sides qualify automatically.

You have to fancy Saracens to win again, but, Glasgow's luck must turn against Saracens some day, while, with home advantage at Murrayfield, even against Munster, Edinburgh, perhaps with one or two of their injured big guns back, should be capable of clinching a semi-final place. We have a lot to look forward to.

YESTERDAY was a big day domestically, with crucial Tennent's Premiership games at both ends of the table.

Going into yesterday's games, we knew Ayr and Melrose were all but guaranteed their customary places in the end of season play-offs. However the real interest was in the two from three all-Edinburgh dog fight for the other two places, between Currie Chieftains, Heriot's and Watsonians. And with Currie and Watsonians going head-to-head, and Heriot's at the Greenyards, Saturday's fixtures were crucial.

In the end, Heriot's did their cause no end of good by beating Melrose 26-21, while it was just as close at Myreside, where Currie won 29-23. Ayr meanwhile, were racking-up a bonus-point win, 36-12 over Hawick at Mansfield Park.

This leaves Ayr on top of the heap, with 66 points, five clear of Melrose, with Currie third, on 58 points, one clear of Heriot's, who now have a five-point cushion over Watsonians in the race for that fourth play-off place.

Yesterday's results also had a bearing on matters at the foot of the table. If there is relegation at the end of this season – and whether or not this happens is locked in the “Top Secret” files in the top drawer of TCD's aircraft carrier-sized desk at HQ, then it is all but certain that Edinburgh Accies will be the fall guys.

They simply HAD to beat Glasgow Hawks at Balgray yesterday to have any chance of avoiding tenth spot. How they tried, but, on the day they ran into a brick wall of Hawks defenders. Wee Fin Gillies was delighted with the win, and quick to praise the bravery of his men.

“Gary Strain had not been able to train all week, but, he led from the front,” Gillies gushed. Warming to his theme, he continued: “Paul Cairncross is fighting a virus, one or two others are carrying knocks, but, they wanted that win today and got it.” Listening to Fin, you almost expected him to channel his inner Govanite and be: “Pwoud, vewy pwoud,” of his men.

Hawks' driving maul was productive, both tries coming from this source – the second from a really sneaky low throw to Gary Adams at the front, which totally wrong-footed Accies.

Hawks also had to overcome two yellow cards. The first, brandished at lock Fraser Hastie, was, I felt, a case of referee Ross Mabbon penalising the outcome, rather than the incident.

I did not feel Hastie's tackle on Nick Stephen was high, and the damage was done by the way Stephen landed, forcing his removal from the game.

This Hawks' win lifted them above Hawick, into eighth spot. If we do have promotion and relegation at the end of the season – the fight to avoid the play-off spot will be keen.

In National 1, Marr are in a good spot, one point clear of Jed-forest, at the top, and with a home game against bottom team Kirkcaldy in hand. But, as you might expect, it is tight at the top here, with GHA and Selkirk still in the mix.

IT was good to see the original “Rocky” former SRU Technical Director John Roxburgh on the touchlines at Balgray yesterday. Rocky is still looking a bit frail following his heart attack before Christmas, and, on a very cold afternoon, nobody blamed him for bailing-out early.

 John Roxburgh

But, I had missed his lectures on all the things Aristotle was getting wrong, and his insightful advice on how to report on games. It was great to see him back and in such good form.

MY OWN wee club Cumnock, didn't have a game yesterday. Their crucial West Division One basement battle against Dalziel was called-off because of “a frozen pitch.”

Pardon the cynicism, but, I thought these new-fangled 3/4G pitches were immune from such vagaries of the weather. I reckon one or two of the Auchinleck guys in the Cumnock ranks had tickets for the Scottish Cup tie between Talbot and Ayr United, and yes, of course, that takes precedence over any rugby match.

Beechwood Park – grass pitch: playable. Just over one mile away, Broomfield – artificial pitch: frozen; aye right!