Now, it’s over to youth

This weekend, the southside’s youngsters will take centre stage during a remarkable hat-trick where Whitecraigs, GHA, and Cartha all host u18 West District finals.

Whitecraigs u18 welcome Ayr to West Lodge for the cup final. A tense 19 – 19 draw with Dumfries in the semi-final saw them progress as the first try scorers. In the other semi final, Ayr comfortably defeated West of Scotland

Craigs coach Johnny Leitch said: “It’s an excellent reward for the squad at the end of a very successful season. We’ve already run Ayr close this season so hopefully we can go one better this weekend.”

At Braidholm,GHA host Glasgow Hawks in the Shield final. GHA made light work of Hamilton in a 46 – 0, in the semi-final and Hawks beat Dalziel RFC.

Head Coach, Paul Tyler, told The Extra: “The boys have worked so hard for everything this season and this is a well-deserved finale to the season.

“After finishing the league unbeaten and enduring the disappointment of missing out on the national Cup this will give the squad a chance to finish the season on a real high.”

In the third final Cartha QP host East Kilbride/Cambuslang at Dumbreck in the plate final.

Cartha’s talented squad have been undone on several occasions by the weather, denying them a third place league finish .

They have swept all before them in a strong plate campaign, beating Alan Glens 56 – 5) in the semi-final, and are strong favourites to win the final.All games kick off at 2pm .

Paul Tyler , who is director of GHA’s academy, concluded: “If you want to see the future of Scottish rugby get down and support one of your local teams.”

Meanwhile, good news for the southside’s young rugby stars goes far beyond the success of the u18 sides.

On Sunday, GHA’s u16s face Cumnock away in the final of the Glasgow u16 Shield at 2pm while GHA S2s secured victory at the S2 SRU Fairplay Festival at Braidholm this weekend.

They beat old rivals West and Hawks in consecutive games, and defeated Dumfries in the final game.

Last week, Whitecraigs’ Scott Patrick got his first start Glasgow u17 against Borders in a 24-17 win.

Hutchesons’ pupil and former GHA player Max MacFarlane has been selected in the Scotland u18 squad to face Irish schools in Dublin on March 30.

THE first XVs of GHA and Whitecraigs saw their league seasons come to an end on Saturday.

Craigs won their final game, defeating Dumfries 18-14 The West Lodge side finished the season in fifth position in Championship A

Meanwhile, in the national league,a 76-5 loss by GHA against Boroughmuir left the southsiders in eighth place.