THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS
Premiership division 1

Aberdeen GSFP v Heriot's

In an attempt to notch up their first league win of the season, Aberdeen bring in Tane Jerecevich at full-back, while up front there are no fewer than three changes. Duncan Massey starts at prop, though Murray Low will come on for part of the game, while Justin Reid partners Martin Stanning at lock and Chris Allan is fielded at blindside flanker.
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Dundee HSFP v Ayr

Home coach Ian Rankin, in no way dismayed by his side's first defeat of the season by Currie, makes just the one change, Graeme Thomson returning at full-back after injury. "The scoreline flattered Currie, with the 4-3 try-count in their favour a truer reflection of the game," stressed Rankin. Ayr's win at Hawick, their first in the Borders for many years, was not achieved without cost, and more changes may have to be made. But Richard McCallum, Nick Lavelle and former Greenock lock Scott Sutherland, in for his first start, are all drafted in.

Hawick v Glasgow Hawks

The champions have listed the XV who beat Aberdeen GSFP but one or two of their Glasgow back-up players, such as Mike Adamson, could well have to withdraw as they have a game on Monday. In a strong-looking three-quarter line are former pros David Millard, Steven Duffy and Rory Kerr, who opened his Hawks account with a try against Aberdeen on his debut. The former Hawks forward Scott Forrest will be in the home back-row, who competed well against Ayr but failed to cash in on early supremacy.

Melrose v Watsonians

The visitors give ex-Biggar winger Craig Sorbie his league debut, while Scott Stumbles returns from full-back to scrum-half to replace the injured Murray Bringhurst. Matt Coupar moves to full-back. The only change up front sees prop Simon Stevenson in for Kyle Traynor, who will be playing for the Edinburgh back-up team against their Glasgow counterparts on Monday. Melrose recall Gavin Broomfield to the second row in an otherwise unchanged XV, who will be aiming to make home advantage count against their unbeaten opponents.

Boroughmuir v Currie

With almost 70 points to his credit in only three league games so far this season, Ally Warnock is fast becoming the focal point of Currie's title challenge. The powers that be at Murrayfield have not seen fit to utilise Warnock's talents this season, so the pro teams must be overflowing with talent.

Warnock will have been much in the minds of his former Boroughmuir colleagues at training as they prepare to welcome the unbeaten league leaders, with both sides likely to name the same XVs.

This article was posted on 16-Sep-2006, 07:48 by Hugh Barrow.