Blues get back in action against league leaders

The Tweedsiders were surprisingly relegated at the end of last season and are making a strong to return to National 1 at the earliest opportunity.

Of the ten games played so far they have only lost once and in their last game convincingly beat their closest promotion challengers Cartha QP.

The Blues are dangerously close to the relegation zone and it would be a major surprise if they were to take the win points on Saturday.

To their credit no side has overwhelmed them, and, in fact their bonus points total is the highest in the division, accumulated from a succession of narrow losses.

Most of these defeats have come from dream starts to games allowing the opposition to built up a substantial lead before coming to terms with the game.

At Peebles three weeks ago they were 26-0 down with a hour played but three late converted tries took them within a whisker of victory before time ran out.

They will be buoyed, however, with the performance in the BT Cup two weeks ago at Musselburgh where they matched the National 1 side every step of the way to take their place in round three.

One absentee from the Kelso game will be winger Finlay Bruce, who incurred a two week suspension following his red card in that Musselburgh game.

n Kirkcaldy, one of the two National 2 sides, left in this season’s BT National Cup ,have drawn holders Heriots, in the third round of this season’s competition.

At this stage the top four sides from last year’s Premiership join the 12 winners from the second round.

Heriots are also Premiership champions so the Blues could not have had tougher opposition.

Kirkcaldy and Heriots have met once previously in the cup with the Goldenacre side winning 18-12 at home in a second round tie 20 years ago.

The tie is scheduled to be played at Beveridge Park on Saturday, January 28.