No anxiety for Morrison who insists Hamilton rugby club will get it right

Oct 16 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON Rugby Club coach Ian Morrison this week urged his side to show more belief in themselves as they prepare for Saturday’s clash with Haddington at Laigh Bent.

The Bulls sit 10th in the Scottish Hydro Electric Premier Two, but know a win could see them climb to a mid-table position.

Either way, coach Ian Morrison is confident that Hamilton will get it right, but points out that wholesale changes have taken place in the side in recent years.

He said: “Every game in Premier Two is proving to be pretty competitive and I don’t think any one side is that much better than anyone else – it’s down to who turns up on the day.

“As a result of that, consistent sides do well, like Jed-Forest on Saturday, who were solid and took their opportunities, although I felt we rather gifted them.

“Young players are bedding in and there has been a complete turnaround in our team over the last couple of years.

“The standard in the league is higher but we’re in the right place, in terms of player development.

“Some of them are a bit naive at times but there isn’t quite a team yet, which will take time.

“Jed-Forest have been together for four or five years now, while some of our guys only met each other this season.”

Morrison isn’t concerned with Hamilton’s league position, and points out how they ran leaders Dundee HSFP close before losing 39-26 at Laigh Bent earlier this season.

He said: “I look to win every game and losing games is always a concern, but at this stage there is no reason to start sounding the alarm bells.

“Dundee are the best team in this league and that was the only game that has concerned me so far, but we scored four tries against them.

“The trouble was I don’t think our lads believed they could win.

“But if we can go up against the top team and take four tries off them then any team is there for the taking.

“Saturday’s game against Haddington is a tough one but I treat every one like a cup final, and we’re at home, so we’re targeting a win.”

President Donald Woodrow echoed Morrison’s comments and said: “It has been a bit of an up and down season, but we lost a lot of players at the end of last season and have brought through a lot of youngsters.

“It will take a while for them to bed in, they will have off-days, and unfortunately that is when it will affect us most.

“But games we’ve lost have usually come in the latter stages so it’s not all doom and gloom.

“Haddington on Saturday will be a difficult game, as always, but I expect us to get back to winning ways.”