Stew Mel vs Dundee HSFP, 7/12/02

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Squad

The Stewart's Melville team for Saturday's game with Dundee HSFP, 2 pm kick off at Inverleith, is:

The team shows 6 changes from the one beaten by West of Scotland last Saturday, with two of them being positional. Fraser Pollock moves from Full Back to Inside Centre and Steven Reed moves from Inside Centre onto the wing. The defeat last Saturday came at a price, with both Kenny Milligan and Nick Penny picking up injuries which rule them out this weekend. Kenny is replaced by Mark Welch, who takes over in his favoured full back slot. Nick is replaced up front by Daniel Smit, who was apparently outstanding for the 2nd XV in their great win over Kirkcaldy. Ally Maclay switches to Number 8 to accommodate Daniel.

The other change in the backs sees Stuart Thom's greater experience win the nod over Euan Clark, whilst, up front, Malcolm MacColl is away in New York on business for 12 days, so his absence allows for the recall of Andy Cadzow to the starting team for the first time this season.

Saturday is a must win game for us, and the boys are desperate to get the show back on the road and put behind us the horror 20 minute spell which saw us collapse against West. We are in no doubt as to how tough this game will be, with Dundee having championship aspirations, but, hopefully, the hunger of the Stewart's Melville team will be enough to to compensate for that, and the hurt the boys are feeling will edge us towards victory.

Riggers' Review

If you tell me where to get it, I'll go and get it for them. If you tell me how much it costs, I'll pay for it out of my own pocket. If you tell me what it looks like, then I'll have a better idea of what I'm looking for. What am I talking about? That little thing called confidence. For something that is intangible, it is really starting to affect the performances of this Stewart's Melville side. But why? That is the question. For 40 minutes yesterday, the team turned in easily their best performance of the season, and, if only three of Fraser's penalties had sneaked to the other side of the post - because that's how close they were - then we would probably have been looking at a fine Stew/Mel victory.

A half-time scoreline of 21-8 or 12-8. Which one would you take? The first one, of course, and the impact of that bigger lead would have meant Dundee would have needed to play differently. But, with only a four point cushion, the confidence that had been flowing in the first half slowly ebbed away as one of our former players, Niall Gallagher, turned in a clinical goal-kicking performance, to first reduce the deficit, then edge Dundee ahead and then put them five points clear. A couple of late tries produced a fairly flattering result for Dundee, who are now all but promoted. Oh, to be in their shoes!

So where does that leave us? Well, we are still in pole position to grab the fourth promotion spot. The leagues finish in seven weeks time, and, in that period, it boils down to six cup ties. We start next week with a trip to Tillicoultry to play Hillfoots in the Cup. Sometimes the cup can be a distraction, but I think it is coming at a great time for us. Make no mistake, this is a big challenge, with a trip into the unknown, but it gives us a change of focus. It's winner take all. No second chances. We need to go and play with this confidence thing and see how it turns out. If we do, and it comes off, then the Haddington game becomes a different proposition.

I looked at the team sitting in the dressing room yesterday after the game, and I know exactly how the squad is going to respond. When the going gets tough, I can guarantee you that the men in this team will stand up and be counted. It means that much to them. They have worked so hard this season to not take it on and finish the job. There is also too much talent sitting in that dressing room, and in the 2nd XV's dressing room, for the job not to be completed. Let's get to Tillicoultry. Can't wait ....

Riggers

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