Tennent's Velvet
Scottish Cup
Glasgow Hawks' much-vaunted back line are expected to provide the firepower for their Tennents Velvet Cup bid on Saturday, but Murray Wallace will be instrumental in supplying them with the ammunition.
As the leader of a formidable pack who have steamrollered most of their opponents this season, the former Scotland flanker will be in his element against Kelso at Murrayfield. Unlike many of the 30 players on view in the all-second division affair, Wallace is familiar with the surroundings, having won all three of his international caps at the national stadium.
While the likes of Glenn Metcalfe and Tommy Hayes wait in the wings to lend their undoubted sparkle to proceedings, the 30-year-old will be cajoling another barnstorming display from his fellow forwards, among them older brother Fergus. As he contemplated a season that saw the second division title sewn up weeks ago and a trio of Premiership sides dumped unceremoniously out of the Cup, he said, modestly: ''It's been easy, really.
''I've known quite a lot of them from our GHK days and me and big Chas Afuakwah (the Hawks' bounding second row) go back to under-21s together. Schnoz (brother Fergus) has obviously been a difficult problem, but I've sorted him out.
''But it comes from all the boys. Everyone is very encouraging to each other and it's just a case of the odd clip round the ear when people step out of line.''
For a player who has seemingly done little wrong for both his club and Glasgow district this year, Wallace's omission from the SRU's two super district squads announced last month came as a hammer blow. However, after being considered good enough to represent his country only last season and with a full-time contract that does not expire until November 1999, he has not given up hope of forcing his way back into the Murrayfield masterplan.
While much has been made of the impending departure of five of their top backs, as well as prop Gordon McIlwham and No.8 Gordon Mackay to the district set-up, Wallace believes the Hawks will continue to prosper in division one as they already had suitable replacements in mind.
As the swansong for one of the most talented teams Scotland has seen in recent years, however, Wallace is convinced Murrayfield will provide a perfect send-off for the Hawks. ''This is the last time we'll all be together as a side and it has been great fun,'' he added.
Meanwhile, Kelso's biggest-ever superstar, John Jeffrey, has backed the present team to cause an upset, although he himself will miss the most important match in the club's history as he will be keeping a date with his old Test colleague, Derek White, who has organised a charity match between his club, Marlow, and a Scotland Grand Slam Select.
''My mobile phone will be at the side of the pitch, however, and I will be hoping to receive regular score updates from Edinburgh,'' he said. ''The next week and a half will undoubtedly be the most crucial time in the club's history, with the chance of the cup and then promotion back to the top-flight if they can beat Heriot's in the play-off.
''In the longer term, that will probably be the more important game, but the players certainly won't be thinking about that until after Saturday. Although the Hawks are bound to start as favourites, Kelso can take heart from what happened in the Rugby League Challenge Cup final on Saturday. Wigan were regarded as the hottest dead certs of all time, but Sheffield Eagles have the trophy in their cabinet.''
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