Venue: BalgrayKick-off time: 2pm
Teams –
Glasgow Hawks: E Muirhead; J Hastings, D Barrie, G Cruickshank, L Jarvie; F Thomson, C Reidy; T Banatvala, P Cairncross ©, B Sweet, M Crumlish, A Rutherford, A Syme, Y Shaheen, S Hastings. Subs: T McTier, F Anderson, J Campbell, S Lima, S Steele, L Brims, M Waugh.
Watsonians: G Lang; J Hamilton, R Kerr, D Coetzer, H Fisher; L Jamieson, B Young; C Murphy, B Cooper, F Donaldson, L Ball, A McInnes, F Stewart, A Steven, K Van Niekirk ©. Subs: T Gray, C Davidson, H Stewart,, J Roberts, K Watt, M Scott, J Beveridge.
Referee: David Young
Key clash: Freddie Thomson versus Lewis Jamieson
Team news –
Glasgow Hawks: A few changes due to injury, unavailability and involvement in the Scotland Under-20’s versus Combined Academies fixture. Euan Muirhead, Logan Jarvie and Calum Reidy are the only backline survivors from last week, skipper Paul Cairncross comes into the starting XV at hooker after easing himself back from injury off the bench last week, while Andrew Syme and Yousuf Shaheen return in the back-row.
Watsonians: A real test of the club’s strength and depth with 14 changes to the squad from last week, largely due to Scotland Under-20s involvement and a lengthening list of injuries. Four players will make their first start – Gregor Lang at full-back, Lewis Jamieson at stand-off, Fyfe Donaldson at tight-head prop and Fin Stewart in the back-row – while Toby Gray and Conor Davidson are on the bench for the first time.
Coaches’ comments –
Glasgow Hawks head coach Phil Smith said:
After a couple of tough weeks against the top two teams in the country, we welcome the third best team to Balgray. Watsonians will clearly be missing a few players due to the Scotland Under-20s versus Combined Academies fixture, meaning both squads will be stretched and it might well come down to the team who make the least errors, which could be very exciting.
Watsonians head coach Davey Wilson said:
Glasgow Hawks have had a couple of difficult weeks in the league, but they are a capable outfit who can hurt teams if given the opportunity. They have a physical pack who are direct and confrontational, while any momentum generated allows them to ask questions with a threatening back-line, which we experienced at Myreside at the start of the campaign. We are under no illusion as to the task that awaits us, especially with so many changes to our squad for this encounter. That said, opportunity knocks for this squad and the coaching group are excited to see how well these new faces perform under more challenging circumstances. Strength and depth are key to any league campaign and Saturday afternoon will give us a much clearer picture to see how well these troops fare in the trenches!
TOL verdict: With two much-changed teams facing off, it will depend on who holds their nerve throughout the ebbs and flows of the contest. There seems to be a touch more continuity and experience across the Hawks 23. Narrow home win.
Anold Clark Premiership: Paul Cairncross backs Glasgow Hawks to embrace fight for survival
Venue: GoldenacreKick-off time: 2pm
Teams –
Heriot’s: A Reid; N Sakapaji, Z Smith, A Hunter, T Glendinning; S Wells, S Talac; A Bogle, E Young, S Cessford, P Spence, J Hill, F Thomas, S Wallace, R Leishman ©. Subs: R Jackson, R Cromer, R Brown, C Anderson, I Hill, S Howarth, B Evans.
Currie Chieftains: F Sayers; R Daley, E Crombie, S Robeson, C Gattinby; A Harley, G Christie; C Anderson, R Stewart, G Scougall, C West, A Bain, S Cardosi, A Fletcher, E Hasdell. Subs: A Maxwell, T Jeffrey, C Ramsey, A Hogarth, A Duncan, D Innes, M Bradshaw.
Referee: Chelsea Gillespie
Key clash: Elliot Young versus Ryan Stewart
Team news –
Heriot’s: A chance to show squad depth with four key backline performers – Hamish MacArthur, Callum Jessop, Henry Kesterton and Rory Brogan – all starting for Scotland under-20s this weekend, meaning Struan Talac, Struan Wells, Angus Hunter and Zack Smith come into the run-on XV. Rory Kirkpatrick’s work-rate and selfless bravery will be a miss, but Jason Hill’s addition to a reshuffled starting back-five of the scrum adds experience and power.
Currie Chieftains: Only one change to the starting XV with the influential Gregor Christie returning as scrum-half and captain, meaning Alex Duncan drops to the bench and Sam Leto misses out. Alex Maxwell replaces Edinburgh Rugby Academy prop Jamie Stewart on the bench.
Coaches’ comments –
Heriot’s head coach Bob McKillop said:
It’s always a tough game against Currie, who play some very attractive well-organised rugby. The two teams, and two coaching teams, know each other very well, so there will be a lot of bragging rights up for grabs. It will be interesting to see if the announcement of the return of the Club International XV adds an extra bounce to some of the players.
Currie Chieftains head coach Mark Cairns said:
We were pleased with a lot of aspects of our performance against Hawks last week, particularly the shape we showed in attack and the quality of our decision-making. Defensively we were solid for the most part, and although we conceded a couple of scores from turnovers, our organised sets were strong. It was also encouraging to perform well without Rhys Davies and Gregor Christie, with Alex Duncan stepping in at 9 and doing an excellent job, while having Gregor back this week is a real boost.
We know the challenge of going to Goldenacre, which is always a tough place to play. Heriot’s are a well-coached side with a strong players in their pack and exciting backs, so we’re under no illusions about the task. Our focus is on continuing to improve each week and, if we get our performance right, we’ll put ourselves in a strong position to take the points. The boys are up for the challenge and looking forward to it.
TOL verdict: Momentum and continuity swings this one towards the visitors. Away win.
Venue: MillbraeKick-off time: 3pm
Teams –
Ayr: S Watson; J Craig, J Shedden, A Stirrat, A McGowan; B Beattie, F Johnston; C Rae, R Tanner, M Scott, E Bloodworth, L McNamara, R Sweeney, T Brown, B Macpherson ©. Subs: J Drummond, A McGuire, C Henderson, E Doak, S Rae, H Lynch, D McCartney..
Melrose: M Gabe; C Goldsbrough, Donald Crawford, R Brett, D Mulcahy; J Dalziel, S Clark; J Dobie, B McLean, A Arkley, A Runciman ©, A Weir, W Ferrie, S Derrick, R Campbell. Subs: S Rainey, Z Szwagrzak, E Ruthven, H Bowe, Doug Crawford, P Anderson, F Douglas.
Key clash: Ed Bloodworth versus Angus Runciman
Team news –
Ayr: Scott Wilson returns to the starting XV at full-back in place of Robbie Orr, while Adam McGowan takes over from Cameron Van Wyk on the left wing. All change in the front-row with Caleb Rae, Rhod Tanner and Michael Scott promoted from the bench to starting XV, while last week’s starting props Jamie Drummond and Calvin Henderson will look to make an impact off the bench, with Glasgow Warriors Academy hooker Joe Roberts playing for Scotland Under-20s. Lewis McNamara replaces Rory Jackson in the second-row. Euan Doak is in line for a Premiership debut off the bench.
Melrose: Oli Anderson and Ollie Furness are both unavailable this week due to being on Scotland Under-20s duty so are replaced by Adam Arkley and Angus Weir. The other change in the pack sees Ruairi Campbell swap into the back-row for the benched Henno Bowe. In the back-line, Corey Goldsbrough and Declan Mulcahy return to the starting XV on the wings. Zen Swarzagak and Elliot Ruthven both return to the bench following injuries.
Referee: Ciaran Stark
Coaches’ comments –
Ayr head coach Grant Anderson said:
Ayr versus Melrose … speaks for itself. We are ready to go!
Melrose co-coach Scott Wight said:
We’ve worked hard this week on a couple of variations within our defence and attack structures, and we’re all looking forward to the challenge at Millbrae.
TOL verdict: Neither coach is giving away much before this one, and you sense that they both know what is coming. It will be a proper contest but hard to see an upset. Home win.
Club XV fixture to return next year as Ireland and Scotland compete for Dalriada Trophy
Venue: Poynder ParkKick-off time: 3pm
Teams –
Kelso: A Barbour; A Utterson, A Hall, F Robson, H Tweedie; D Patterson, A Tait; A McGregor, E Knox, D Gamble ©, E Thompson, C Thompson, B McNeil, W Jones, Bruce McNeil. Subs: H Ross, G Shiells, N Barnes, J Thompson, W Tweedie, A Milne, G Cessford.
GHA: F Jackson; G Mollinson, C Lonergan, N Thompson, R Nolan; T Lonergan, E McKirdy; S Collins, R Campbell, M Fox, A Kerr, S Callaghan, S Plumridge, D Ewing ©, L McCutcheon. Subs: M Conroy, C Stewart, J Davies, O Lonergan Black, B Curtis, A Bogidrau, C Thomson.
Referee: Michael Todd
Key clash: Will Jones versus Dario Ewing
Team news –
Kelso: Skipper Dwain Patterson is back from playing for Scimitar Storm guest side at the International Invitation Men’s tournament at Dubai 7s last week to resume in the No 10 shirt in place of Edinburgh Academy playmaker Isaac Coates. Billy McNeil swaps in at blindside flanker for the benched Nick Barnes.
GHA: Grant Mollinson is welcomed back into the squad following an injury picked up late in pre-season and he is joined in the back-three with Fraser Jackson starting at full-back. Tom Lonergan continues at stand-off in the absence of Andrew Goudie. In the pack, experienced Sam Collins and Michael Fox start for Oli McKenna and Jackson Rennie who are on Scotland Under-20s duty.
Coaches’ comments –
Kelso co-coach Bruce McNeil said:
GHA have already taken two border scalps away from home this season and won all Borders matches at home so far so this is a very tough assignment for us. We are back at home in what feels like a must win game. Last week’s performance was way below par and it’s up to us as a group of players to take responsibility for that and to put those demons to bed this Saturday in front of our great home support.
GHA head coach Calum Forrester said:
Having been in control for huge spells of the game down at Melrose, it was very frustrating to come away with nothing. We need to be more clinical, finish our chances in the 22, and be a bit more streetwise than we have been in recent weeks. This Saturday will be another huge test for this group of players. Kelso are particularly strong at home and will be hurting after their loss to Hawick, so we will need to be at the top of our game to get a result this weekend.
TOL verdict: There is bound to be a reaction after last weekend’s loss at Hawick, and the Poynder factor will bolster Kelso’s hunger to deliver a statement performance, while back-to-back trips to the Borders will inevitably have a draining effect on a GHA side whose inner-steel is being rigorously tested coming out of that long winning streak. Home win.
Venue: PhiliphaughKick-off time: 3pm
Teams –
Selkirk: C Anderson; J Welsh, B Allan, R Nixon, B Pickles; E Wilson, H Alderson; G Paxton, C Tait co-©, B Riddell, A McColm co-©, J Fisher, M Job, B Stewart, K Westlake. Subs: J Bett, S Murray, R Joyce, T Wilson, O McClymont, A Grant-Suttie, R MacDonnell.
Hawick: C Welsh; O Gray, A Mitchell, G Huggan, C McLeod; L Armstrong, Z Lewis; S Muir, F Renwick ©, N Little, S Fairbairn, H Donaldson, G Welsh, M Swailes, C Sutherland. Subs: F Kinnaird, C Crawley, M Renwick, D Redpath, C Riddell, K Brunton, F Douglas.
Referee: Daniel Evans
Key clash: Braden Stewart versus Mikey Swailes
Team news –
Selkirk: Kieran Westlake comes back into the starting team at No 8 with Braden Stewart switching to the openside and Taylor Wilson dropping to the bench. With Ross Wolfenden is away with the Under-20s, Ethan Wilson moves from the bench to starting stand-off. Stephen Murray is available again to be a front-row replacement, and Andrew Grant-Suttie returns after a few weeks out and will look to add punch to the backline when he comes on.
Hawick: Same starting XV as took on and defeated Kelso, with Kyle Brunton (who was a a late call-off last week), Cian Riddell and the highly experienced Dalton Redpath added to the bench.
Coaches’ comments –
Selkirk head coach Gordon Henderson said:
Another massive game for us this week against a Hawick team that had an excellent win against Kelso last week. They have experience in the forwards and they have a backline that can apply pressure if given space. If we are to get success out of this week’s Borders encounter we will need to take our game to another level with control and discipline to gain the success that we need especially at Philiphaugh.
Hawick head coach Graham Hogg said:
Last week was a typically stuffy Borders derby and we know that this week will be no different. Selkirk are fighting for survival in the same way that we are, so I’m sure it is going to be a physical encounter, especially if we get the forecasted conditions. It is the first time we have been able to name the same starting XV, and with reinforcements on the bench, we are hopefully set for another positive result to take us further away from the bottom of the table.
TOL verdict: Expect skin and hair, with no quarter asked nor given. The belief last week’s win will have given Hawick makes them marginal favourites. Away win.