I'll warm up on derby day

David Christie 1563 - 1563 • Published 22 Jan 2009 15:30

CROCKED Burgh captain David Riding is so desperate to be involved in this weekend"s crucial "derby" he will don his club tracksuit and warm up with the team.

But while the rest of the 1st XV lock horns with Lenzie at Ardencaple in a bid to get their league campaign back on track, the centre will have to make do with shouting support from the sidelines.

Following a successful operation on a broken arm, the 34-year-old is facing at least another five weeks before he can even contemplate a return to action.

He said: 'It"s so frustrating, but I have been keeping myself involved, going to watch all the games, getting changed and warmed up as if I was going to play. That"s how I am getting through it.

'The guy came off the back of a scrum, and as I swung my arm to tackle him, his head caught me - he had a pretty hard head.

'I went to see the specialist and everything should be fine. I have to leave it for twelve weeks from the point of the operation, so that is the end of February before I can contemplate playing again.'

Riding will watch on this weekend as the Greens, currently sitting eighth, look to edge out their familiar Glasgow opponents - who they drew 5-5 with in October - and push towards their season"s original goal.

The captain added: 'Lenzie is a massive game in the context of the rest of the season. We felt fairly angry after the last game as they scored right at the end and really we were very unlucky not to get a win away.

'They have been in our league a long time and we have got to know them well. It has come to be almost like a derby - that"s the way we look at it.

'It is so tight in this league. Apart from Lasswade - they have won every game and have pretty much won the league - so everyone else is playing for second.

'The target at the beginning of the season was to finish in the top four and that is still realistic with the number of games we have left. Anything more would be a great bonus.'

The one-time West of Scotland player started his playing career with Helensburgh playing mini rugby. Now back at his original club, he is impressed with the current set-up and can"t wait to make a playing return.

He said: 'The club has moved forward greatly since when I first left. Then, it had poor facilities and a poor pitch, but now there are new changing rooms and a new first team pitch which the club spends money on every year.

'The club president Tom Inglis has really taken it forward. On the playing side, half of the first team is twenty-one or under so there is a lot of potential for the future.

'I am coming to the end of my playing career, but I still have plenty to give. Hopefully when I do come back, I can make a difference.'

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This article appeared in Helensburgh Advertiser 22 Jan 09

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