CRAIG Chalmers, Melrose's Scotland and Lions stand-off, is to have an
exploratory operation today on the knee that was injured late in the
final of Glasgow Academicals' sevens at New Anniesland on Monday.
Regardless of the outcome, he will not be playing in his own club's
sevens at the Greenyards on Saturday, and if a serious injury is
diagnosed it could rule him out of Scotland's tour to Argentina next
month.
After the tour he is due to spend two months in South Africa playing
club rugby with Glenwood in Durban.
* NORTH and Midlands have introduced Steve Lipp, Gordonians' captain,
as the only newcomer in the team to face a Dumfries Select at Park Farm
on Monday, April 25, in the club's annual Octocentenary Trophy match.
Lipp makes his debut as the selectors have rested Stewart Campbell,
the Dundee High lock, before he goes on Scotland's tour to Argentina
next month.
Five changes in personnel have been made in the team who beat Munster
in Cork in December, with John Mitchell, Bruce Doney, Gareth Flockhart,
and Jon Newton, the Dundee High stand-off, also coming in. Team:
S A D Burns (Edinburgh Academicals), captain; J R Mitchell
(Kirkcaldy), R J S Shepherd (Edinburgh Academicals), B Doney
(Gordonians), J F Swanson (Edinburgh Academicals); J R Newton (Dundee HS
FP), K G M Harper (Stirling); W D Anderson (Kirkcaldy), M W Scott
(Edinburgh Academicals), D W Herrington (Dundee HS FP), S Lipp
(Gordonians), J G Mathieson (Watsonians), D J McIvor (Edinburgh
Academicals), M Waite (Dundee HS FP), G N Flockhart (Stirling).
Replacements -- A K Carruthers (Kirkcaldy), M T H Cross (Dunfermline), A
Knight (Boroughmuir), D H Mitchell (Edinburgh Academicals), B H Bell
(Highland), T J Smith (Dundee HS FP).
* CHARLIE Bryden, the former Royal High forward, has been appointed to
succeed Fred McLeod as the Co-optimists' honorary secretary. McLeod, who
has been secretary since 1980, has decided to retire at the end of the
season.
* DUNDEE High School FP start the defence of the Alloa Cup when their
postponed first-round tie against Grangemouth goes on this evening at
Union Park, Corstorphine. Grangemouth have given up ground advantage as
their pitches are waterlogged.
Glasgow High/Kelvinside defend their season's unbeaten record when
they take on Ayr at Old Anniesland in the same competition. That tie
will be preceded by a minute's silence in memory of Dougie Forbes, the
GHK club's secretary, who died last week.
Kilmarnock have conceded their tie to Stirling County. Kilmarnock had
difficulty in raising a strong enough team.
