This Weekend’s Rugby Round-up

Edinburgh Rugby

The shoogly peg that Edinburgh’s coat has been hanging on got a wee bit looser on Friday as the already struggling side lost another two players to injury. With 18 players out with a variety of ailments, Edinburgh debuted some new blood in Dublin against a Leinster side who, while having their own issues with injury and International call-ups, could still field a team with a few players who have worn the jersey for their country.

lead at half time, Edinburgh gradually gave way under the Leinster pressure and, despite a second half try, the final score ran out to 33-8.

An indication of the problems Edinburgh are having at the moment can be illustrated by the fortunes of two of their players, Jack Turley and George Turner. Last week, furniture removal man, Turley, turned out for his club side Heriots on the Saturday, found himself in the Monday night ‘A’ side match (pictured above) against Ontario Blues and impressed the backroom staff sufficiently there to be selected – and put in a top-notch performance – for the full squad on Friday. Meteoric rise or what…? Hooker Turner played his part by coming on in the second half – as a sub for Dougie Fife – on the wing!

Club Rugby

BT Premiership

With our report from the Club scene going missing in action last weekend ( I forgot. OK? – JP) the latest round of matches saw a change in fortunes from the last report for Edinburgh’s sides in the Premiership.

The only – relatively speaking – light came from Currie who played out a 31-31 draw with Hawick away from home. The other three sides suffered a series of defeats with Boroughmuir going down 29-18 at Stirling County, Heriots losing 20-18 to Glasgow Hawks and Edinburgh Accies losing at home, 16-5 against Melrose.

The table now stands with Heriots now in second with 36 points and still in sixth with 24. Boroughmuir and Accies continue to prop up the table with 15 and 13 points respectively

BT National League, Div. 1

In the National League, the fortunes of Stewarts-Melville and Watsonians – playing next Friday night at Myreside – contrast with their local neighbours. Stew-Mel beat Dundee HSFP 22-20 at Inverleith and ‘Sonians won 17-6 away to Peebles.

In the table, the teams still lie in third and fourth places, but now with 33 and 32 points respectively.