 Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Cup captains Cameron Simpson (Edinburgh Academy), Stewart Shaw (Stewart's Melville), Ross Turner (Fettes) and Nick Hurn (George Watson's) A host of Scotland’s top young rugby talent are gearing up for the all-Edinburgh Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Cup finals on the international pitch at Murrayfield tomorrow (Wednesday 18 March, kick-off 6pm and 7.30pm) – admission is free. The 2006 champions Stewart’s Melville College claimed their place in the under-18 final with an away win over North Berwick High School before Fettes College completed the finals day derby with a win over last year’s finalists George Watson’s College under the Myreside floodlights. Stewart’s Melville College captain, Stewart Shaw, said: “I’m expecting a good atmosphere. A lot of the schools said they’re going to come down and give us their backing so hopefully we’ll get a good crowd down and enjoy the experience.” Fettes College captain, Ross Turner, added: “We’re really excited about playing on the main pitch. It’s nice that the hard work’s paid off – we’ve had a tough couple of games to get here and we’re really looking forward to it.” In the under-15 final Edinburgh Academy will take on city rivals and current holders George Watson’s College, who are targeting a third straight under-15 schools cup triumph. Edinburgh Academy under-15 captain, Cameron Simpson, said: “We’ve got a lot of pace out wide and a good back-row so hopefully we can upset Watson’s three in a row attempt. “It’s going to be a great game, and a great place to play as well. I watch Edinburgh and Scotland play here all the time so it’s a dream come true.” George Watson’s College captain, Nick Hurn, said: “It’s always been my lifetime ambition to play at Murrayfield. This is a big thing for me and now that it’s the third time in a row we’ve been in the final so there’s even more pressure – but I’m putting all that behind me and just going to take it step by step and go for it. “We’ve been together since we were very young and we know each other like the back of each others’ hands. We have strength and speed and when we play well we’re unstoppable. I’m pretty confident that we’ll do well.” The Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Cup Final is the first in the series of top youth rugby action taking place at the home of Scottish Rugby with the National Midi Finals (19 March) and National Youth Cup Finals (25 April) kicking-off in the coming weeks. Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Cup under-18 final teams Stewart’s Melville College | Fettes College | 15 Rory Paterson 14 Scott Cook 13 Sean Murchie 12 Michael Crawley (Scotland under-17) 11 Michael Doneghan (Scotland under-18) 10 Ross Grant (Edinburgh under-18) 9 Gavin Milne (Edinburgh under-18) 1 Max Campbell (Edinburgh under-16) 2 Stewart Shaw (CAPTAIN) (Edinburgh under-18) 3 George Turner (Edinburgh under-17) 4 Rory MacLeod 5 Craig O’Donnell 6 Nicholas McGlinchey 8 Jordan Kynoch (Edinburgh under-18) 7 Ben Johnstone (Edinburgh under-17) Substitutes 16 Frasier Napier 17 John Campbell 18 James Dickson 19 Andrew Wilson 20 Gregor Porteous 21 Ruari Cannon 22 Max Batchelor | 15 Rory Daly 14 Ryan Black 13 Jack Greer 12 Stuart Daly (Edinburgh under-18) 11 Chris Giffin 10 Kit Gammell 9 Sam Hunt 1 Ross Turner (CAPTAIN) (Scotland under-18) 2 Sam Cooper 3 Ben McDonald 4 Ben Morrison 5 Joe Grant 6 Peter Chamberlain 8 Mark Agnew (Edinburgh under-18) 7 Chris Graves Substitutes 16 Mark Birrell 17 Hamish Hay 18 Stuairt Tosh 19 Phil Bell 20 Murdo Armstrong 21 Corrado Biagi |
Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Cup under-15 final teams Edinburgh Academy | George Watson’s College | 15 Robbie Orr 14 Alex Harris 13 Jamie Farndale (Edinburgh under-16) 12 Grigor Brown 11 Freddie Smith 10 Zander Muir 9 Alex Glashan 1 Tom Mitchell 2 Angus Lutton 3 Josh Haining 4 Justin Brackenridge 5 Ronan Seydak 6 Cameron Simpson CAPTAIN 8 Chris Thomson 7 Chris Dean Substitutes 16 Rory Simpson 17 Angus Scott 18 Magnus Skirving 19 Fergus Greig 20 Davis Catonio 21 Jonty Bredin 22 Jamie Hartop | 15 Dominic Johnston 14 Jack Broadley 13 Andrew McMillan 12 Pete Ferguson 11 Chris MacBeth 10 Euan McKean 9 Ramsay Young 1 Sean Sproule 2 Adam Freeland 3 Aodon Donnelly 4 Matthew Horsman 5 Rhys Jack 6 Nick Hurn CAPTAIN 8 Zach Courtney 7 Ross Blair Substitutes 16 Darren McLuskie 17 Jamie Gregor 18 Ross Gregor 19 James Hassall 20 Callum Anderson 21 Giuseppe Pia 22 Iain Gilmore |
The Bell Lawrie Scottish School’s Cup final will take place on Wednesday 18 March at Murrayfield stadium – admission is free Under-15: Edinburgh Academicals v George Watson’s College (kick-off 6pm) Under-18: Stewart’s Melville College v Fettes College (kick-off 7.30pm) Match day information • There will be free parking, on a first come first served basis in the Coach Park at Murrayfield, from 4pm • The coach park can be accessed via Saughtonhall Avenue. Please access the stadium from the west turnstiles, which will be open from 4.30pm • Entry is free and seating will be in lower west stand. The under 15 final kicks off at 6pm and the under-18 final kicks off at 7.30pm. The Scottish Rugby store will be open until 9pm, and food and hot drinks will be on sale in the West Stand. Alcohol will not be available and bags may be searched on entry to the stadium. Competition information • Entries for the 2008/2009 Bell Lawrie Scottish Schools Cup have set another new record with 35 more teams entering Scottish Rugby’s flagship schools competition than ever before • The tournament has broken entry records for the past three consecutive years with the total number of competing teams soaring from 184 in 2006/2007 to 244 in 2008/2009 – a massive 33% increase • Investment manager Bell Lawrie, due to re-brand as Brewin Dolphin next month, is to extend its sponsorship of the Scottish Schools Cup to include a girls’ competition • The new three-year deal will see the partnership with Scottish Rugby extended until 2012 and will adopt the new title ‘The Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools Cup’ The National Midi and Youth Cup Finals, which sees the best young club rugby talent go head to head, will take place on the Murrayfield main pitch on Sunday 29 March and Saturday 25 April respectively National midi finals - Sunday 29 March Under-15 girls: (Gala RFC or Atholl RFC/ Breadalbane Academy) v (Carrick Academy or Aboyne/Banchory Academies) (kick-off 12 noon) Under-15: Ayr v Stirling County (kick-off 1.30pm) Under-16: Musselburgh v Dumfries (3pm) National Youth Cup final - Saturday 25 April Under-18 girls: Murrayfield Wanderers v (Aboyne/Banchory Academies or Cumnock RFC) Under-18 boys: Currie Colts v Stirling County (kick-off 7.30pm) |