* EWAN McCorkindale, of Glasgow High/Kelvinside, has his first full

senior game of the season today, writes Bill McMurtrie. GHK restore him

at scrum half against Stewart's Melville at Old Anniesland.

McCorkindale, scrum half in Glasgow's district-championship team last

season, broke an arm while he was playing football during the summer,

and it was only last week that he could make his comeback, playing as

replacement full back for GHK against Edinburgh Academicals at Raeburn

Place. He confirmed his fitness by playing scrum half for the GHK second

XV against their Melrose counterparts on Wednesday.

After his prolonged absence McCorkindale has a lot to make up. He

would have been expected to keep his district place for Glasgow's title

defence in the past six weeks, and his hat would surely have been in the

ring for Scotland's B international against Ireland two weeks ago.

His return is also a welcome boost for the Anniesland club's attempt

to escape from relegation. They have four points, and though that is two

more than four other clubs GHK's new-year programme lists successive

matches against Hawick, Stirling County, Boroughmuir, Melrose, and

Heriot's. GHK could not realistically budget for more than two points

from those five games.

EWAN McCORKINDALE