The Scotsman print print close close
Sat 23 Apr 2005
THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS;

ALAN CHRISTIE

WITH the championship decided it’s now all about the second relegation place. Three teams are on tenterhooks ahead of today’s matches in the BT Premiership Division.

Second-bottom GHA host the champions, Glasgow Hawks. Third-bottom Watsonians go to Hawick, and fourth-bottom Currie have completed their season - but with 44 points they could still be caught.

With Watsonians on 43 points, GHA’s position looks particularly perilous. Coach David Wilson reflects that fact in saying: "If we don’t win this one, I feel we are doomed."

However, with a game in hand, at home to Aberdeen, a draw would keep GHA afloat. "A lot depends on Hawks’ mindset," suggested Wilson.

Hawks coach Peter Wright insisted that his men want to put to good use the recent training they have been doing.

"We are not going there to do any favours," Wright claimed, pointing out that a number of his youngsters, including back five men Scott Forrest and Sandy Warnock, are out to show the selectors that they should be in the upcoming squad for the under-21 World Cup in Argentina.

Of the sides’ Glasgow players, only GHA’s John Beattie is available. Wilson has a potential crisis at stand-off where in midweek he was missing both Ian Kennedy and Martin Dunn. Dunn is listed, however, with Graham Fisher poised on the bench.

Watsonians did themselves a big favour with their mid-week win over Heriot’s. Not only did they look focused but the players who had been at the IRB World Sevens tournament in Singapore had a highly- polished cutting edge.

Watsonians field the same side at Mansfield Park, where their hosts Hawick need to halt a home run which has seen them go under, first to Dundee in the BT Cup, and then to Hawks by a record defeat in the league.

The Greens are without flanker Barrie Keown, who is on holiday, but Graham Scott is restored to the front row.

The third game is at Meggetland, with Boroughmuir facing Melrose who could still snatch third place from them. Muir’s main concern will lie with next week’s BT Cup final.

This article was posted on 23-Apr-2005, 08:32 by Hugh Barrow.