Spring in step for Pees ahead of GHA

After starting the season so well and seeming likely to feature in the promotion shake up Peebles had slipped down the BT National League Division One, having failed to register a victory since their defeat of Jed-Forest on October 25.

“This was a really good win and a really good performance and the best way to start the new year,” said senior director of rugby Graeme Paterson.

“There were two tries just before half-time and that seemed to be the catalyst for the victory. I wouldn’t say there was any stand out performers, it was just a great all-round effort.

“After the run we’d been on this was much needed and you could see the confidence growing in the players as the game went on.

“We were forced into some late changes with two of our guys going down ill and the replacements did really well for us.” Another big effort will be required when the side face GHA, who are second in the table behind runaway leaders Selkirk.

The visitors from the south Glasgow suburb of Giffnock ran out 28-13 narrow winners when the sides clashed in the reverse fixture back in September.

“We played okay when we took them on at Braidholm but we lost it with a bad 10-minute spell when they hit us with three tries,” said Paterson.

“We know we are going to have to play well but if we play like last week we have nothing to fear.

“They lost in the Cup last week but it might be that some players weren’t available and maybe we shouldn’t read too much into that.

“We should be looking to win all the games we have left at the Gytes this season and as many as possible away as well.

“We moved up a few places to fifth after last Saturday’s win but it’s highly unlikely we’ll make a play-off place now. It would need a couple of the teams above us to have a bad run.

“Our aim now has to be to go out and win every game and give the guys the chance to prove themselves for next season.” Paterson would not be surprised to see an open game tomorrow with plenty of points on the board but would settle for a low-scoring affair if it meant a Peebles victory.

“They seem to be involved in a lot of high-scoring games and they do like to play rugby,” he said. “They have a lot of good players all across the pitch and it should be a good spectacle.

“But I would not complain if we scraped home by one point or won 3-0 in a dull match.” The Peebles coaches are likely to have a larger squad at their disposal with Jonathan Swiatek available after his holidays and Ryan McConnell and Graham Hogarth recovered from the flu that ruled them out of the Aberdeen game.

Memories of a thoroughly disappointing end to 2014 were wiped away as the red and whites thrashed Aberdeen last Saturday. The 44-13 defeat of the northern raiders has put a spring in the Peebles step again as they prepare to take on highly-flying GHA tomorrow (Saturday) at the Gytes (kick off 3pm).

After starting the season so well and seeming likely to feature in the promotion shake up Peebles had slipped down the BT National League Division One, having failed to register a victory since their defeat of Jed-Forest on October 25.

“This was a really good win and a really good performance and the best way to start the new year,” said senior director of rugby Graeme Paterson.

“There were two tries just before half-time and that seemed to be the catalyst for the victory. I wouldn’t say there was any stand out performers, it was just a great all-round effort.

“After the run we’d been on this was much needed and you could see the confidence growing in the players as the game went on.

“We were forced into some late changes with two of our guys going down ill and the replacements did really well for us.” Another big effort will be required when the side face GHA, who are second in the table behind runaway leaders Selkirk.

The visitors from the south Glasgow suburb of Giffnock ran out 28-13 narrow winners when the sides clashed in the reverse fixture back in September.

“We played okay when we took them on at Braidholm but we lost it with a bad 10-minute spell when they hit us with three tries,” said Paterson.

“We know we are going to have to play well but if we play like last week we have nothing to fear.

“They lost in the Cup last week but it might be that some players weren’t available and maybe we shouldn’t read too much into that.

“We should be looking to win all the games we have left at the Gytes this season and as many as possible away as well.

“We moved up a few places to fifth after last Saturday’s win but it’s highly unlikely we’ll make a play-off place now. It would need a couple of the teams above us to have a bad run.

“Our aim now has to be to go out and win every game and give the guys the chance to prove themselves for next season.” Paterson would not be surprised to see an open game tomorrow with plenty of points on the board but would settle for a low-scoring affair if it meant a Peebles victory.

“They seem to be involved in a lot of high-scoring games and they do like to play rugby,” he said. “They have a lot of good players all across the pitch and it should be a good spectacle.

“But I would not complain if we scraped home by one point or won 3-0 in a dull match.” The Peebles coaches are likely to have a larger squad at their disposal with Jonathan Swiatek available after his holidays and Ryan McConnell and Graham Hogarth recovered from the flu that ruled them out of the Aberdeen game.