Wanderers title tilt

Published 19 Feb 2010 14:00 0 Comments

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MAY MISS OUT: Prop Dougie Smith could be absent from Wanderers' team tomorrow along with one or two others.

Greenock Wanderers have the opportunity to wrap up the Scottish Hydro-Electric National League Second Division title tomorrow at far-flung Thurso when they play Caithness in a match that may well decide the 2009/10 championship race.

Win, lose or draw though Wanderers look to have the title won, as only a major collapse would see them fail to notch the four points necessary to see them claim their first title success since 2002

Nearest challengers Lasswade were defeated at Cambuslang last weekend, which means that they can only muster a maximum 87 league points from their remaining six matches. Wanderers are currently on 84 points and, therefore, require only one win from their final three fixtures to ensure that the championship salver heads to Fort Matilda at the end of the season.

For Wanderers a victory on Saturday would be the icing on the cake after a terrific season where they have effectively scattered all before them.

The side hit top form last weekend when they destroyed fancied challengers Glasgow Academicals in a six-try romp at Fort Matilda that secured promotion to the top national league next season and underlined their status as the best team in the division.

President Dougie Sloan said: "We have maintained a self critical approach this season as we see ourselves as very much a side that is developing.

"We are delighted to have secured promotion and we now have three games left to pick up the necessary points to win the league.

"Tomorrow's game is going to be very tough and Caithness will not want us to win the title in their back yard. We lost in Thurso last year and we know to expect a difficult and very competitive game."

The Fort Matilda men excelled last weekend and produced, without doubt, the best home performance in several seasons. The appetite for tackling and set piece play was superb and more of the same tomorrow will undoubtedly lead to a victory.

It was a day when everything came together in terms of performance and the club even had the added boost of talented centre Brendan McGroarty making a try-scoring comeback just when it looked like he would miss the entire season through injury.

Unfortunately there are likely to be several call-offs for tomorrow's game owing to work and personal commitments, which may curtail continuity of selection.

Prop forwards Dougie Smith and Jim McArthur are unlikely to travel and skipper David Watson is still feeling the effects of an ankle knock. Irrespective of selection the prize for victory tomorrow for the players is a place in Wanderers' history.

Being part of a side that wins a league title for the club will be a significant motivational factor and each and every player in the squad will be desperate to be involved.

Coaches Dave McVey and Bob Adams deserve great credit for the formidable side they have moulded together. A strong, powerful pack, quick thinking and talented half-backs and a youthful, fast and strong-running back line have all gelled together to provide the club with the best side they have had in several seasons.

Adams said: "We identify the real potential we have at the club. Winning promotion and, hopefully, a championship is the kind of success that breeds further success.

"We will make some changes for tomorrow's game and we expect a battle. It is definitely a real challenge to travel that distance and put in a performance, particularly one that could bring us the title."

Wanderers depart for the north this afternoon and will stay overnight in Thurso ahead of the 2pm kick-off tomorrow.

Recent form will see them as favourites, but fierce pride and home advantage will make Caithness extremely difficult to beat.

As soon as the result from Thurso is known it will be posted on the Wanderers' website and spectators not travelling should check there for breaking news.

Caithness v Wanderers at Millbank, Thurso. Kick-off 2pm.

Squad: L Tyley, D Watson (captain), S Connolly, C Anderson, D Murray, B McGroarty, K Smith, G Fletcher, A Devlin, A McDougall, D Smith, A McMichael, R Lavelle, M Lavelle, J McArthur, M Coyle, A Shearer, M Gray, M Duncan, J Stewart, C Clark, A Abernethy, C Robb.

● Wanderers are sponsored by National Semiconductor [UK] Ltd.

Wanderers have been drawn away from home against First Division Livingston in the second round of the Scottish Hydro-Electric Shield competition.

The tie is scheduled for Saturday 13 March.

This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 19 Feb 10

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