Mackay comes in on blind side for back-row reunion

Scottish Exiles at Murrayfield this afternoon. The GHK wing forward

withdrew yesterday because of a neck strain, and Gordon Mackay takes

over at blind side, increasing Stirling County's team complement to 10.

Wallace, who has been having treatment for the injury throughout the

past week, had been Glasgow's captain for six seasons until Kevin

McKenzie took over for the victory against North and Midlands last

Saturday. The flanker also scored Scotland A's try in the victory over

the South Africans last month, and his stock rose even higher when he

was called up as an emergency standby on the morning before the

international against the tourists three weeks ago.

His deputy, Mackay, however, will be just as eager to do well,

especially after his creditable performance for the Glasgow-Edinburgh XV

against the South Africans. ''He's been champing at the bit,'' George

Blackie, Glasgow's team manager, remarked yesterday.

Mackay's game against the tourists was out of position at open side

whereas today, playing his tenth district match, he will be in his more

familiar role on the other flank. Moreover, he has been reunited with

his colleagues in the Stirling back row, Jim Brough and Brian Ireland.

That club trio, even with the benefit of a well developed

understanding, will surely be tested by the Exiles' composite, though

respected back row. Iain Morrison, Eric Peters, and David Blyth are

respectively a first-choice international wing forward, a former

Cambridge captain welcoming any opportunity to enhance his career

outside Bath's second XV, and a flanker who has come out of the blue

this month as new blind-side prospect.

Like Glasgow, the Exiles opened their title campaign with victory last

week, winning by 25-9 against the South, the defending champions.

Surely, though, Andy Reed, the Exiles' captain, and Damian Cronin, who

is commuting from France for these district matches, will not have such

free rein as they reportedly had against the South. Their fellow caps,

Alan Watt and Shade Munro, ought to ensure that Glasgow stay in the

lineout contest, even if not so dominantly as they did against

North-Midlands.

What happens outside the set piece is a different story. Last week

Glasgow, bogged down in the heavy Hughenden pitch, could not generate

continuity, but they ought to have no complaint on that count on

Murrayfield's manicured sward. The international pitch is ideal for

those wishing to promote their rucking prowess, as Glasgow do.

Despite the SRU advertisement in these pages this week, another

district championship match is to be played this afternoon. Edinburgh,

opening their campaign, cross to the Kingdom of Fife to take on North

and Midlands at Cupar.

Hamstring injuries have afflicted both selections. Bruce Ward and Ally

Donaldson have withdrawn from the Edinburgh squad whereas Danny

Herrington has dropped out as the North-Midlands tight head.

Edinburgh have recalled two Boroughmuir players, Graham Drummond as

blind side and Nick Mardon as a replacement. Willie Anderson takes over

in the home front row, with Sandy Penman on the bench, only another's

injury away from being the first Grangemouth player to appear in senior

district rugby.

If the visitors are to win they will have to subdue a highly charged

back row of David McIvor, Rob Wainwright, and Gareth Flockhart. Teams:

Glasgow (v Scottish Exiles, Murrayfield, 2pm) -- D N Barrett (West); M

McGrandles (Stirling), C T Simmers (Glasgow Academicals), I C Jardine, K

M Logan; M McKenzie (all Stirling), C E Little (GHK); J T Gibson, K D

McKenzie, captain, G B Robertson (all Stirling), A G J Watt, D S Munro

(both GHK), G T Mackay, J Brough, B Ireland (all Stirling). Replacements

-- S N Williamson (Stirling), D R McKee (West), S M Simmers (Glasgow

Academicals), J Lonergan (West), M Norval (Stirling), J K Lymburn (Ayr).

Scottish Exiles -- G Fraser (Waterloo); M Kemp (Saracens), M P Craig

(Waterloo), B R S Eriksson (London Scottish), M E Appleson (Sale); S

Laing (Instonians), D W Patterson (West Hartlepool); D I W Hilton

(Bath), B W Gilchrist, A P Burnell (both London Scottish), D F Cronin

(Bourges), A I Reed (Bath), captain, D Blyth (Waterloo), E W Peters

(Bath), I R Morrison (London Scottish). Replacements -- K A Whitaker

(West Hartlepool), D B Millard, S D Holmes, R Scott (all London

Scottish), P M Jones (Gloucester), L M Mair (London Scottish).

Referee -- R J Megson (Edinburgh Wanderers).

North and Midlands (v Edinburgh, Duffus Park, 2pm) -- A K Carruthers

(Kirkcaldy); M A Cousin (Dundee HS FP), J W Thomson (Kirkcaldy), P R

Rouse (Dundee HS FP), S A D Burns (Edinburgh Academicals); J R Newton

(Dundee HS FP), K G M Harper (Stirling); J J Manson (Dundee HS FP), M W

Scott (Dunfermline), W D Anderson (Kirkcaldy), S J Campbell (Dundee HS

FP), J S Hamilton (Stirling), D J McIvor (Edinburgh Academials),

captain, G N Flockhart (Stirling), R I Wainwright (West Hartlepool).

Replacements -- J F Swanson (Edinburgh Academicals), B R Easson

(Boroughmuir), A D Imrie (Kirkcaldy), J G Mathieson (Watsonians), A K

Penman (Grangemouth), S D Brown (Edinburgh Wanderers).

Edinburgh -- A G Hastings (Watsonians); H R Gilmour, A R McRobbie

(both Heriot's FP), P W B Flockhart (Stewart's Melville FP), I C Glasgow

(Heriot's FP); D W Hodge (Watsonians), G G Burns (Stewart's Melville

FP); G D Wilson (Boroughmuir), K S Milne, S W Paul (both Heriot's FP), J

F Richardson (Edinburgh Academicals), captain, P T Jennings, G J

Drummond, S J Reid (all Boroughmuir), G F Dall (Heriot's FP).

Replacements -- L Graham (Biggar), N R Mardon (Boroughmuir), R M Dickson

(Currie), D G Burns (Boroughmuir), R B McNulty (Stewart's Melville FP),

W P Haslett (Edinburgh Academicals).

Referee -- E Murray (Greenock Wanderers).