Rugby Union: Walker off and running

Boroughmuir. .27

Jed-Forest. . .10

THAT Boroughmuir are among five teams now occupying pole position at the top of the Scottish League owed much to the contribution of Murry Walker. Influential judges, though, will require to be convinced about the 23-year- old stand-off's abilities.

Taken on tour to Japan in 1989 an then overlooked from every subsequent international squad, Walker's three appearances for Edinburgh District have been spread over four years.

Now Walker's talent is blossoming again and Sean Lineen, his team-mate, is convinced that this latest push for representative honours is different. 'It's often overlooked that Murry has been in the Boroughmuir side since he was 17. In his new-found maturity, Murry's choice of option is more consistent,' the Scotland centre said.

'He's worked hard on his kicking to complement tremendous pace, which brings benefits under the law revisions. These encourage players to attack from further out. Murry has got one of the hardest tasks in trying to dislodge Craig Chalmers from the Scotland team, but the selectors must take a look soon.'

Scorer of 29 points the previous weekend, Walker shattered the hitherto unbeaten leaders by scoring a try soon after the teams had turned around level at 3-3. Then, no sooner had Boroughmuir hit the front than he broke clear to set up a try for Graham Drummond.

Walker, meanwhile, is convinced Boroughmuir can go all the way to the title and in some style. 'There is so much pace in our back division it is accepted, even by our forwards, that we will be running the ball from positions where other teams would normally kick,' he said.

Boroughmuir: Tries Walker, Drummond, Finnie, Stark; Conversions Walker 2; Penalty Walker. Jed-Forest: Try K Armstrong; Conversion McKechnie; Penalty McKechnie.

Boroughmuir: S Douglas; D Stark, C Finnie, S Lineen, D Macrae; M Walker, M Hall; G Wilson, B Brown, P Wright, J Price, P Jennings, G Hepburn, S Reid, G Drummond (capt).

Jed-Forest: K Amos; B Hughes, H Hogg (capt), G McKechnie, M Yule; G Scott, G Armstrong; N McIlroy, K Barrie, R Johnstone, M Pringle, C Hynd, K Liddle, R Kirkpatrick, K Armstrong.

Referee: C Muir (Langholm).