Heriot's fringe must show they can cut it

HERIOT'S coach Bob McKillop today challenged several of the club's fringe players to use their final Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership match of the season at Stirling County tonight to stake claims for a place in the national cup final on Saturday week.

Victory for Heriot's would see them finish fifth in the table but McKillop is keen to look further ahead to the cup clash, "the biggest match many of our players will ever appear in". McKillop said: "There are likely to be opportunities for the likes of Jonny Alston, Marcus McAllister, Andy Douglas, Kenny Blyth, Robert Gray, John-Patrick Ward and Dylan Mason, all of whom missed the semi-final, to try to boost chances of facing Melrose in the final."

There will also be debuts for Sandy McCutcheon (schoolboy) and Calum McDougall (student and son of Hamish McDougall who was the No.8 in the 78 -79 championship side).

"By going ahead with our last league match tonight and avoiding a clash with Stirling County's annual sevens on Saturday we will be able to devote part of our weekend to cup final preparations," McKillop went on, adding that there will be a Saturday training session under Colin Deans, Scotland and Lions captain and father of Heriot's assistant coach, Roddy.