Edinburgh Eagles bring down the curtain on another notable season when they face Forth Valley Vikings at Glensburgh, Grangemouth, in Saturday’s Scottish Rugby League Grand Final. (Kick off 2.00pm).
The Capital outfit can look back on a campaign which included a live appearance on BBC Television when they entertained Saddleworth Rangers in the venerable UK Challenge Cup’s first round.
It wasn’t to be for the Eagles that day but player/coach Craig Robertson believes experience gained can be a key factor in securing what would be a 12th Scottish title.
“The match against Vikings provides the pathway into another Challenge Cup and we are determined to take advantage.
“Saddleworth were just too experienced for us but we learned a lot from a match in which we were heavily engaged for a long time” said Robertson, who is ready to include a string of players for Grand Final debuts.
“Paul Wilson, Max Philby, Josh O’Brien and Australian recruits Rory Parker and Brodie Wilson have all recently come into the side and done well.
“Along with stalwarts including Peter Burns and Lewis Clarke they’ll help us overcome the absence of Craig Wishart and Rory Hamilton, both unavailable to face Vikings.
“We actually lost to them in the first game of the season but a number of our players were finding their way back from rugby union and were struggling to adapt.
“We are much better equipped now” said Robertson, a 31-year-old surveyor whose team flexed muscle by hammering Glasgow Rugby League 58-0 in the semi-final.
Evergreen sports journalist. Previously published in many publications around the world. Send me your local sports stories. billlothian1008@gmail.com
