CONFIDENCE is high that Peebles Rugby Club will end a six-game losing run in the league when they return to action in Glasgow tomorrow (Saturday).

The Gytes outfit missed an opportunity to halt the slide down the table when last weekend’s home game against bottom club Biggar was abandoned because of a waterlogged pitch.

But they will be ready and properly prepared as they attempt to regain the winning thread when they take on Hillhead-Jordanhill at Hughenden.

“We are pretty confident about this game,” said Peebles’ director of senior rugby Graeme Paterson. “If the 19-20 players that take part perform up to their best then we should do it.” Peebles have not played since defeating Jed-Forest in the RBS Border Regional Cup nearly two weeks ago but there are no concerns that the side will lack sharpness for their first league match since November 30.

“Our pitch is very wet with all the rain that’s been about but it hasn’t affected our training too much,” said Paterson. “We’ve been able to mix things up with indoor stuff at a riding facility at West Linton which the Aitken family lets us use. It’s great also for night-time training,” Peebles have 20 points and are 8th out of 10 clubs in the RBS National League table but are five points better off than tomorrow’s hosts.

It was against Hillhead-Jordanhill - on October 5 - that Peebles last enjoyed a league victory. “In many ways their season’s been similar to ours,” said Paterson. “They are a big side and our plan must be to keep the pace of the game up and try to play as much rugby as possible. We don’t want to get bogged down in arm-wrestling, that’s not our game.” Peebles will be boosted by the return of Kenny Clyde and Greg Raeburn but Adam Clark will remain on the sidelines with a calf injury.

Paterson is still hopeful that the team can finish the season well. “It’s been a bit of a challenge. But many of our losses have been by small margins and we are not far away,” he said.

“Obviously we went into the season hoping we might challenge for promotion but it was more realistic to expect a season of consolidation and a mid-table finish. We have a young squad and our aim is to push on every year.

“Next season we would look to be trying for the top half of the table or even promotion, though that might not happen anyway if there is a restructuring of the league.”