Rugby Union: Logan on track for Scotland

Boroughmuir. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Stirling County. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

WATCHED by Dougie Morgan, the Scotland coach, Kenny Logan showed the form which threatens to see the 22-year-old Stirling County utility back eventually depose Gavin Hastings as international full-back.

This would have been unthinkable not long ago and Hastings will undoubtedly survive for him and brother Scott to win 50th caps simultaneously, barring injuries, against France this season. Beyond that . . .?

Sean Lineen, one of Hastings' staunchest allies, has admitted that, for all his other attributes, Scotland's captain has lost a yard of pace, a situation perhaps obscured by the focus on recent poor goalkicking. Similarly, Jim Renwick, Scotland's joint cap record holder, claimed before the Calcutta Cup match that he would like to see Hastings being put under the type of pressure Craig Chalmers had been subjected to.

Although currently playing on the left wing, Logan has long been considered a possible international full-back and so Morgan's attendance at Meggetland could have had a significance beyond the excellent attempt of the uncapped Boroughmuir flanker Stuart Reid to claim the vacancy created by Rob Wainwright's injury.

Bruce Hay, that gnarled old Lions full-back, could afford to be generous after seeing the Boroughmuir club he coaches stave off relegation with a victory which owed much to the new-found relish of the try-scorer, Derek Stark, for the more physical elements.

Nevertheless, Hay confessed he was prepared to be surprised by Logan, who sparked a series of Stirling attacks. Recalling how Logan had gained the first of four caps deputising for Gavin Hastings in Australia last year, Hay said: 'I thought Kenny got a bit carried away after coming on the scene very young. But he had his best Scotland game by far against England and there's no doubt he is exciting.'

It seems that early tackle on Tony Underwood against England might have boosted his confidence, as if that were needed by a player who, on tour with Scotland Under-19s, thought nothing of pinning a thistle motif on a leading Romanian religious figure. Playing down his ambitions, Logan preferred to endorse a suggestion by Jim Telfer, Scotland's director of rugby, that interest in domestic leagues could be better sustained by knock-out play-off's involving the top four teams.

Boroughmuir: Tries Knight, Stark; Penalties Easson 5. Stirling County: Try Parsons; Penalties Williamson 5.

Boroughmuir: N Mardon; D Macrae (R Smith, 35), D Laird, S Lineen, D Stark; B Easson, A Knight; G Wilson, N Dickson, P Wright, P Jennings, G Torrance, S Reid (capt), D Burns, N McCallum.

Stirling County: M Parsons; A Turner, R Kennedy, I Jardine, K Logan; S Williamson, K Harper; J Gibson, K McKenzie, B Robertson, G Douglas, S Hamilton (capt), G Mackay, J Brough, B Ireland.

Referee: W Calder (Selkirk).