Accies coach sure his promoted team can compete in top flight

Robin Snape scored three tires for Edinburgh Academical

Robin Snape set the scoreboard moving with the first try for Accies and further scores before the interval by Lawrie Seydak, Callum Black and a second for Snape, secured the bonus point that meant, barring a second-half collapse, the BT National Division One title was heading for Raeburn Place.

Snape then completed his hat-trick and James Pearse also dotted down before Accies were awarded a penalty try and Callum Ramm bagged touchdown number eight, while Richard Mill was on target with six of the conversions.

The full five-point haul rendered the result from promotion rivals Jed-Forest’s trip to face Dundee High irrelevant. However, the Borderers did all they could, winning 43-29. That was insufficient to thwart O’Riordan’s rampant side who will now take the Capital’s Premiership contingent to five clubs.

“Everyone was pretty nervous before the game but we got a couple of tries and we settled down and relaxed into the game, and it just went on from there,” said O’Riordan, who believes Accies’ BT Cup exploits this season underline his side’s top-flight credentials.

“We have proven a couple of times by beating Heriot’s and having a good crack at Stirling that we are capable of competing at the higher level,” he added. “But we have to do it week in, week out.”