PEEBLES will face Watsonians in a bottom versus top clash at the Gytes this weekend.

A comprehensive 37-7 defeat to Edinburgh Academicals at home last Saturday leaves the Pees rooted to the foot of the BT National League Division 1. But Pees Director of Rugby Adam Moffat is refusing to get too downbeat.

“We are a young team, and there is no getting away from that. We are asking these guys to play at a very high level, against players who have been playing that level and- in Accies case- higher.

“This time last year many of them were playing for the Colts in U18 rugby. We're asking them to play against big, strong experienced guys. So it is a huge learning curve for them but they are acquitting themselves very well.

“The majority of our pack, bar Adam Clark who is in his mid 30's, were under the age of 24 last week. We had an 18 year-old prop, an18 year-old hooker and an 18 year-old second row.”

Moffat is particularly encouraged by how the Pees Young Guns have responded to adversity so far this season.“Their attitude has been first class,” he said. “They are giving 150 per cent. These young guys who we are asking to step up are stepping up, to the best of their ability.

“It's not like we are adrift at the bottom and there are an awful lot of points between us and the sides above us. We are still in this. So there is definitely still an optimistic mood around the club. The young guys are leading that, because they are full of enthusiasm.”

Reflecting on last weekend's result, Moffat concedes that it was a miss-match in terms of physicality between the two sides.

“We were fortunate that we could call upon Kenny Clyde and Adam Clark, and our prop big James Cockburn last weekend. Those guys can physically compete. But Accies are a big, strong physical side throughout and we struggled to match that.”

Moffat knows the Pees will have their work cut out to deal with the challenge of league leaders Watsonians, who pose a similar threat.

“Like Accies, Watsonians are a strong, physical outfit. But that isn't all they have going for them. From playing them at the start of the season, we know they have got some very quick backs, so we'll have to combat that, to shut down the space and step up our level of physicality to try to counter them.

“They'll be coming into the game full of confidence, sitting on top of the league. But Marr were top of the league too. They were unbeaten when they came to the Gytes, and they went away with their first defeat of the season. That's one of the benefits of being such a young side. Younger players don't really worry about reputations. They have no fear.”