THE so called continental club championship finally got underway for the Scottish district of Caledonia and Ulster at St Johnstone FC's ground, McDiarmid Park, yesterday.

A change of name from North & Midlands, (traditionally Scotland's weakest district), could not disguise their continued lack of reserve strength forcing Stewart Hamilton, a 40 year old lock from the 11th division of Scottish club rugby back into top level action.

Meanwhile Ulster had been revitalised after their Interprovincial Championship by the restoration of their emigre's to their ranks after David Humphreys and Jeremy Davidson.

Yet with their five full caps to two in the Caledonia side it took Ulster all their time to impose themselves.

When they did the man who made the difference was uncapped winger James Topping, who need only reproduce this form during the European campaign to put himself firmly in contention for a Five Nations place.

His break from half way created the opportunity for Humphreys to go in for the try which ultimately turned the game nine minutes from the end. And when another dazzling run took play from Ulster's 22, Stephen McKinty, a tireless number eight, was on Topping's shoulder to finish off the move.

"We had watched Topping's performance against Leinster on video and knew what he could do and it's a pity the centre got injured forcing him to move infield, because he made a lot happen," acknowledged Caledonia's coach Ian Rankin.

For the most part Ulster's capped players failed to impress, Humphreys having a particularly strange game, scoring 23 points yet kicking so poorly that he was relieved of duty by Stuart Laing who wrapped things up with the final penalty strike four minutes before the end.

Stuart Grimes had kept Caledonia in the game with a try converted by Scotland full back Rowen Shepherd. A hugely entertaining, if mistake ridden, first half brought two tries apiece.

Shepherd's superior goal kicking allowed Caledonia to turn 18-15 ahead and the tit for tat nature of the game continued throughout the third quarter as first Ulster, then Caledonia had periods in the ascendancy with out being able to stretch clear.

Six missed kicks at goal by Humphreys, while Shepherd was off target just once from eight attempts, indicated that Ulster had a little more of the game, but the international stand off had more than most to thank young Topping.

. Plans are being drawn up for an eight team Welsh first division next season. Clubs would play 14 league games, thereby freeing eight weekends for an expanding European tournament in addition to domestic cup action and internationals.

The current 12 club First Division is widely viewed as not being competitive enough.