Week 4 Preview

Hawks have to get their season back on the rails
Shock of the day last week, which was relatively unreported again, was GHA’s impressive conquest of the mighty Nails which I had not seen coming.
Former Ayr stand-off and Destruction Derby driver, James Noonan kept GHA very much alive and in the game before a late score saw the Sooside’s season off to a start, a few more scalps like that and they’ll start to climb up the table.

Ayr were on the wrong side of a 7 point margin at home. Hawks miserable start to the season carried on with a late rally bringing them back into the game for a losing bonus. The bottom line? All my Prem 1 predictions were wrong. The other divisions were better but still…

Premier One

Glasgow Hawks v Edinburgh Accies
Last year’s cup finalists meet at Old Anniesland. Hawks won that encounter with relative ease and really not playing at their best.

Accies will be smarting after their very narrow defeat as coach Ian Barnes hosted his old side Hawick. With both sides having to settle for a bonus Hawks have to see this as a must win and with a bit of style. The first priority is to set up a solid platform in the forwards.

Accies may feel they need to do well here but I think we will see Hawks shut them out of the game and pick up all five points.

Hawick v GHA
The Greens are putting together a good early season showing, winning once in Edinburgh and narrowly losing a week earlier.

Despite a morale boosting win at Braidholm it is difficult to see GHA picking up even a bonus point no matter how well the former rally driver James Noonan plays.

Heriot's v Ayr
Heriots would probably have thought they had won at Braidholm before John Welsh won the game lat for GHA and are smarting. The previous week’s win against Hawick is probably a better bell-weather of their season’s chances.

Whilst Ayr can be a force on their day the defeat to Sonians seems to suggest they will struggle to remain runners-up this year. Heriot’s to win a tight encounter.

Premier Two

Biggar v Haddington
It’s tight at the top of Premier 2 and these 2 unbeaten sides clash. It’s too early to talk about title deciders but… No really it is too early but it would be a chance to see what the 2 sides that could be coming up look like.

Haddington struggled at home against an improving and resurgent West last week, winning by three points. This should be a cracking match between two high scoring sides.

I think Biggar will shade it as Hartreemill becomes a fortress again after a poor season last year.

Cartha QP v Musselburgh
CQP took four points from a tight match at Jed a valuable away win at a Borders stronghold. At home to a Burgh side which has blown hot and cold, home advantage should see CQP pick up the four and maybe a bonus.

Hamilton v Kelso
With Hamilton edging Hills out by a point at Hughie’s last week they gained a first win against a side which has still to win a game. Kelso are also winless and will almost certainly return to Poynder with “null points”.

Selkirk v Hillhead-Jordanhill
Hills have there first non-derby match of the season. Struggling to secure their first win, Philiphaugh will not be a happy hunting ground and this should boost Selkirk up the table by 5 points, plunging Hills deep into relegation difficulties.

West of Scotland v Stewart's Melville
I was a fan of Smellies on their recent sojourn in Prem 1. However they are struggling to find any sort of form and are bottom of the league holding Kelso out of bottom spot. West are starting to put some results together and were unlucky against pacesetters Haddington. They are very capable of winning well here and should pick up 5 points.

Premier Three

Ardrossan Accies v Dunfermline
Both Ayrshire sides are at home this week. After their defeat at Peebles, Accies have a chance to put down a Dunfermline side which has ground out rather than ran rampant in their matches this season. Expect a return to their high scoring ways.

Irvine v Ellon
This is a must win for Irvine, lose and there is clear water between them and the side immediately above them. Ellon have quietly been building for years but their plans to challenge Grammar in the north-east are starting to unravel. Irvine to shade this but it will not be pretty.

This article was posted on 20-Sep-2007, 16:17 by Hugh Barrow.