Deek takes the helm

David Knox • Published 20 Jan 2012 09:30 1 Comment

DEREK Armstrong has some unfinished business to attend to with Biggar Rugby Club now that he has officially taken over the reins from Gary Parker as Head Coach.

'Deek' as he is better known, is only too painfully aware that his new charges must win at least three of their final six Premiership C league matches to have any hope of remaining in the top 20 teams in Scotland.

And he was left a frustrated man after the narrow defeat to West of Scotland last Saturday. "Not only did we lose out on what was a game we should have won, but we also picked up a few injuries along the way. This coupled with a red card means we will be without certain players during the run in."

Biggar bid farewell to Gary Parker last weekend with Secretary Ian Conn stating: "With Australia beckoning Gary and his family, I would like to extend the sincere thanks of the Committee and members of the Club for his hard work since he joined us at the start of the season.

"The improvement in the playing standard has been evident to all who have watched the team in the last few weeks and I am sure that the players and returning Coach Derek Armstrong will maintain this trend."

He added: "There is no doubt that Gary will be missed if only for his ready 'wit'. His award of the 'Man of the Match' to a Stewart's Melville player at the recent match at Inverleith will stay with all who were at the game for a long time.

"It is not just for his humour that he'll be missed. Remember, Gary was the coach who not only took Biggar to Premier 1, he was at the helm when we gave some of the 'established' clubs the fright of their lives. As one journalist described a visit to Hartreemill - Welcome to the Gates of Hell - it said everything about our players and coach."

But in Armstrong they have a man who knows all about relegation battles from his time with Hawick RFC, while he has added steel from his days as a rugby league player with Carlisle and Whitehaven.

He added: "Rugby League gave me an added level of professionalism, and it is this that I will be bringing to my coaching. I don't intend making any radical changes to what we are doing at the moment. But I have my ways of doing things which I hope will rub off on the players."

One thing that Deek would like to see is more players giving Hartree Mill a try. It seems that the geographical location puts many off.

But they miss other aspects of the club, the aspects that brought him back to the club following his previous time as Head Coach in 2006-2007.

"I was thrown into the Head Coach position back then, and if truth be told I was maybe not ready for it. But I am now and I will do what I can to ensure Biggar enjoy Premiership rugby next season."

Both Biggar and Peebles are without a game this weekend as the Premiership league campaign is put back into cold storage.

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This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 20 Jan 12

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• 

  head over heals
  Unregistered User
  Jan 30, 07:47
  Report comment

  Oooooooooft Gary Dodds :p
  
  Recommend?   Yes 2     No 0

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