THE precarious state of club rugby in Scotland has once again been brought into sharp focus by National One side Dundee HSFP announcing on Wednesday that they will be unable to raise a team to play against Premiership leaders Ayr in round one of the Tennent’s Cup this weekend.

The Taysiders have 14 senior squad members unavailable, and front-row appears to be the major sticking point, with the club having only one prop – who would be playing his first game in three weeks after injury – at the disposal at the moment.

“We had one first choice 1st XV prop injured last week who won’t be available until Christmas and one who can’t travel for family reasons,” explained club President Gerry Tosh. “We have used 43 players in the 1st XV this season and injuries are an increasing problem in the game. We have more than 80 registered players but the physio room on Tuesday night was a bit like a MASH unit.

“We have also seen a number of players opt to go to Murrayfield rather than play a game which is a new phenomenon in my experience. We can’t complain as we, the clubs, voted last year to play through the Autumn International games – which, on reflection, was not the best idea!

“Players are just more likely, when the mood takes them, to just find other things to do on a Saturday. Stag do’s weddings, shopping, ski trips, representative trips and so on. I know, having spoken with other clubs, that we are not alone.

“Times have changed and maybe we are asking too much of our players? I am not sure but its a possibility.”

The other seven matches will go ahead as planned, with three matches on Friday night: Boroughmuir v Melrose, Jed-Forest v Selkirk and Stirling County v Glasgow Hawks; and four matches at lunchtime on Saturday: Hawick v Gala, Heriot’s v Edinburgh Accies, Watsonians v Marr and GHA v Watsonians.

TEAMS NEWS BELOW

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS –

BOROUGHMUIR v MELROSE

VENUE: Meggetland @ 7.30m

TEAMS –

Boroughmuir: C Gossman; G Parker, J Edmunds, W Wardlaw, K Gossman; G Cannie, M Johnstone; R Dunbar, J Matthews©, R Montgomery, W Inglis, T Drennan, A Mncube, C Keddie, J Steele. Subs: D Marfo, D Robertson, S Smith, J Hamilton, B Renton.

Melrose: F Thomson; B Colvine, P Anderson, J Baggott, G Wood; S Hutchison, M McAndrew; G Shiels, R Anderson, C Young, J Head, I Moody,  N Irvine-Hess, R Darge, G Runciman©. Subs: R Ferguson, R McLeod, A Runciman, A Jardine, I Sim. 

JED-FOREST v SELKIRK

VENUE: Riverside Park @ 7.30pm

TEAMS –

Jed-Forest: L Young; E Stewart,  G Young, R Marshall, C Young; M Mitchell, J McCough; G Paxton, C McKay, P Ferreira, C Skeldon,.G Law, D Wardrop, J Howe, B.Roff. Subs: G Munro, J Bowie, J Skudro, D Grieve, K Lamont.

Selkirk: J Welsh; F Anderson, D Clapperton, R Nixon, H Bithray; C McColm, A McColm; L Pettie, J Bett, B Riddell, A Renwick, P Forrest, S Nixon, S McCLymont, E MacDougall. Subs:  C Higgins, C Graur, A McColm, C MacDougall, S Tough.

STIRLING COUNTY v GLASGOW HAWKS

VENUE: Bridgehaugh @ 7.30pm

TEAMS –

Stirling County: J Hope; L Trotter, E Magarvie, G Hughes, R Tagive; A Goudie, P Jericevich; R Chies, R Kennedy©, G Holborn, J Pow, S Yarrow, H Burr, R Bundy, A Mackie. Subs: A Orr, A Wood, A Rutherford, C Robertson, C Jardine.

Glasgow Hawks: S Peffers; J McCready, R Beattie, C Harrison, J Couper; R Thompson, K Baretto; G Strain©, P Cairncross, L Skinner, F Hastie, A Kirkland, S Dow, G Wilson, G Adams. Subs: A Fraser, L Archer, L Brims, P Boyer, M Godsman.

WHEN SATURDAY COMES –

HAWICK v GALA

VENUE: Mansfield Park @ 12.15pm

TEAMS –

Hawick: A Weir; K Davies, A Mitchell, G Walker, K Ford; L Armstrong, D Lightfoot; S Muir©, M Carryer, N Little, D Lowrie, D Redpath, S Graham, D Davison, B McNeil. Subs: C Renwick, T Hope, G Lowrie, R McKean, G Welsh.

Gala: G Spiers, R Cooke, R Jeffrey, A Emond, A Turner; S Fairburn, G Hamilton; M Christie, C Keen©, T Logan, R Tod, C Pate, J Easson, L Scott, E Dods. Subs: K Scott, D Keddie, S Mitchell, S Patterson.

HERIOT’S v EDINBURGH ACCIES

VENUE: Goldenacre @ 12.30pm

TEAMS –

Heriot’s: R McMichael, C Lineen, R Jones, S King, C Robertson; S Edwards, A Ball; M Bouab, A Johnstone, J Scott, C Jupp, A Sinclair, I Wilson©, J McLean, R Leishman. Subs: M Liness, S Cessford, M (Martin) Hughes, A Simmers, M (Michael) Hughes.

Edinburgh Accies: V Hart; C Gray, R Chalmers, R Wilson, R Kent; R Mill, M Sinclair; D Morrison, C Black, M McGinley, R Seydak, R Lovett, M Badenhorst,  J Sole©, J Mann. Subs: C Imrie, C Taylor, R Campbell, S Johnson, P Flood.

WATSONIANS v MARR

(for The Bill McLaren Shield)

VENUE: Myreside @ 12.30pm

TEAMS –

Watsonians:J Rowland; A Guthrie, R Hutton, D Innes, L MacPherson; E Fox, M Scott; F Hobbis, F Renwick, D Ferguson, C McKill, C Borthwick©, J Miller, G Nelson, M Fedo. Subs: R Graham, G Jackson, H Fisher, P Cunningham, A Chalmers.

Marr: L Mcloughlin; S Bickerstaff, R Dalgleish, C Bickerstaff, T Steven; C Sturgeon, F Hazel; G Dick, O Rossi, W Farquhar, E Hamilton-Bulger, K Kirk, J Evan,  Pearce, B Johnston. Subs: C Henderson, C McMillan, C Steel, G Paxton, J Scott.

GHA v CURRIE CHIEFTAINS

VENUE: Braidholm @ 12.30pm

TEAMS –

GHA: J Baillie; S Derrick, C Lonergan R Findlay, A Spowart; C King, G Baird; S Carson, M Scott©, M Fox, A Kerr, J McCarthy, L Munvanga, D Ewing, J Sutherland. Subs: L Barron, R Brogan, G Scott, J Edgar, J O’Brien.

Currie Chieftains: J McCaig; M Hooks, J Reynolds, A Hall, S Hamilton; J Forbes, R Frostwick; A McWilliam, F Scott©, M Argiro, V Wright, M Vernel, M Kelly, R Davies, S McGinley. Subs: C Wilson, R Patterson, W Nelson, G Christie, C Davies.

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