Cup break for Wanderers

Published 5 Feb 2010 14:00 0 Comments

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MISSING OUT: Leigh Tyley is an absentee from the Wanderers team.

Greenock Wanderers take a well earned rest from league rugby tomorrow when they meet Lenzie at Viewfield in the first round of the Scottish Hydro-Electric National Shield at Viewfield.

The format of the cup competitions has changed this season and it is a journey which the Fort Matilda club hope will end with a cup final date at Murrayfield on Saturday 24 April.

The clubs are old rivals and were in the same league for much of the 90s until Wanderers began climbing through the ranks. Lenzie are struggling at the foot of the Third Division and face the harsh reality of dropping into the Regional leagues next season.

But will see tomorrow's fixture as an opportunity to have a go at a club from a higher division and in all fairness have nothing to lose.

On paper this should be a comfortable outing for the Fort Matilda side but the romance of the cup occasionally throws up the odd giant-killing exploit. Wanderers will have to guard against complacency as they are minus several influential players for the tie.

Forwards Jim McArthur and Matt Gray, and winger Leigh Tyley, all miss the game for a variety of reasons. They will undoubtedly be missed.

The equilibrium of the side should remain intact though as Martin Lavelle, John Stewart and Gregor Fletcher are also regular members of the squad and will slot into the positions vacated by the three absentees.

Stewart in particular is an excellent squad player and has the ability and confidence to play in any position in the forwards or backs.

He will relish 80 minutes in the boilerhouse in partnership with Matt Duncan, and the club are fortunate to have a player with so many strings to his bow.

President Dougie Sloan said: "The cup competitions are always exciting and we are intent on going as far as possible this year.

"Nobody is thinking as far ahead as a Murrayfield final at this stage, but it would be good to get through tomorrow's tie and have a decent run against some First Division sides.

"Dalziel are top of the First Division and are clear favourites for the competition but we would like to test ourselves against the best in that league to see what we are capable of."

Tomorrow's tie is a good test of the squad that coaches Dave McVey and Bob Adams have put together.

They have not had to cope with much in the way of non-availability this season and a sizeable Lenzie crowd will be on the touchline cheering their favourites on in the hope of recording a shock result.

This will not be a walk in the park for the locals and a determined Lenzie side will do all they can to ensure that Wanderers' name is not in the hat for the second round draw early next week.

Coach Bob Adams said: "We are viewing tomorrow's match like every other this season. Lenzie will be dangerous and we will be focused on keeping shape, working hard and following the game plan.

"We believe we have come through a form dip and we want to build on last week's performance and ensure there are no slip-ups tomorrow.

"There are a few enforced changes but all the players involved have played regularly at 1st XV level this season and are aware of what is required."

Kick-off at Viewfield is 2.30pm just in case extra time is required.

An intriguing contest is anticipated and Lenzie will be fired up in front of a home support. However, if Wanderers can carry their winning league mentality into tomorrow's cup tie there should be only one result.

Travelling supporters should check with the Wanderers' website or with the clubhouse in case of any possible weather postponement.

Lenzie v Wanderers, Shield first round at Viewfield, kick-off 2.30: D Watson (captain), S Connolly, K Smith, D Murray, G Fletcher, A Devlin, A McDougall, D Smith, R Lavelle, M Lavelle, M Duncan, J Stewart, A Abernethy, C Robb, C Clark, Replacements; A Love, A McMichael, C Anderson.

Wanderers are sponsored by National Semiconductor [UK] Ltd.

This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 05 Feb 10

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