ROUND SIX: PREMIER 1 PREVIEW
Saturday, 25 September 2010

Rounds six takes the revamped Scottish Rugby Premier structure for the top two leagues past the half-way point as we rapidly approach the inaugural league split.
Champions Currie host league leaders Boroughmuir at Malleny park bouyed by their first win of the season; Hawks fly into the Greenyards to face Melrose for an important fixture for both clubs; Ayr target their return to winning ways at home to a stuttering Selkirk side; Stirling County welcome West of Scotland for a basement battle under the the gaze of the Wallace Monument at Bridgehaugh; Dundee host a Heriot's side that continues to make amends to a poor 09/10 season; and Watsonians and Hawick go head to head at Myreside.
CHAMPIONS HOST LEAGUE LEADERS: CURRIE v BOROUGHMUIR, MALLENY PARK
After getting their first win of the season last weekend, league champions Currie face current league leaders, Boroughmuir who have won all five of their league games in an impressive start to the season.
Currie head coach, Ally Donaldson, said: “I was delighted to get a win last week and, hopefully, can take that confidence into this Saturday. Our play is definitely getting more consistent and we are getting closer to producing what we are capable of."
Boroughmuir news: Boroughmuir have shuffled the back-row with Neil Rodger returning and Jamie Doubleday moving to six. Drafted Edinburgh player, Ross Samson, returns at 9, David Reekie is promoted to the bench and Harris Jones gets his first start of the season at full-back after some good performances for the 2nd XV.
Boroughmuir head coach, Peter Blackhall, said: “Currie will be up for this game after a good result last week. Malleny is never an easy place to go and play. It will be a hard battle up front but Boroughmuir will be looking to continue their start to the season.
Currie team: Johnny Smith; Tom Brown, James Johnston, Andy MacMahon, Douglas Fife, Matt Scott, Richard Snedden; John Cox, Fergus Scott, Alastair Hamilton, Ryan Wilson, Andy Adam CAPTAIN, Mark Cairns, Michael Entwhistle, Ross Weston
Substitutes: Neil Scobie, Ross Merrilees, Gary Temple, Andrew Binikos, Alan Whittin
Boroughmuir team: Harris Jones; Robert Cairns, Malcolm Clapperton, Stevie Wilson, Ross Neill; Ali Warnock, Ross Samson; Robin Hislop, Sean Crombie, Nick Fraser, Tom McColl, Ali Davidson, Jamie Doubleday, Neil Rodger, Derek O'Riordan
Substitutes: Callum McIntosh, Jonny Latta, Joni Hare, David Reekie, Graeme Blackhall
HAWKS SWOOP INTO THE BORDERS ON A HIGH: MELROSE v GLASGOW HAWKS, THE GREENYARDS
Hawks maintained their unbeaten run with a hard-fought win over Ayr last weekend and, while they will take heart from Dundee’s free scoring efforts in Melrose they will be well aware that the Greenyards is one of the most famous grounds in the division for a reason.
Melrose team news: Melrose have made two changes in the forwards: Nicky Little comes in for Kieran Cooney and Hadden Mitchell comes in for Ross Miller. In the backs, Fraser Thomson comes back in at full-back, Jamie Murray returns at outside-centre and Cammie Murray starts at inside-centre.
Melrose coach, Craig Chalmers, said: “We must win this game to keep up a challenge at the top of the league. We’ve lost two games against Ayr and Heriot’s that we should have won, but we’ve nobody to blame but ourselves. If you don’t take your chances you don’t win games, simple as that. Let’s hope we can create some this weekend and take them.”
Glasgow Hawks team news: Hawks make just two changes to their starting line-up with half-backs Kris Hamilton and Andy White coming in for scrum-half Peter Jericevich (who has moved to Doncaster Knights on loan) and stand-off, Mike Adamson, who is preparing for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
Glasgow hawks head coach, Peter Wright, said: “Great result last week against Ayr but not a great performance. Melrose will be a difficult game at the Greenyards, particularly after they failed to beat Heriot’s in a game I believe they should and could have won. It’s always a difficult place to get a result but a great place to play rugby. We have a number of players who haven’t experienced the Greenyards and are very much looking forward to this game
Glasgow Hawks team: Craig Gossman; Joffy White, Dean Kelbrick, Tom Preece, Kerr Gossman; Andy White, Kris Hamilton; Adrian Smith, Eric Milligan, George Hunter, Rory Hamilton, Andy Kirkland, Rory McKay, Bart Karalus, Ross Miller
Substitutes: Gary Strain, Callum Taylor, Grant Strang, Tom Steven, Robbie Hair
Melrose team: F Thomson; C Anderson, J Murray, C Murray, A Dodds; S Wight, R Chrystie; N Little, W Mitchell, R Higgins, G Elder, H Mitchell, J Dalziel, G Runciman, G Dodds
Substitutes: G Innes, G Holborn, R Miller, B Colvine, C Hardie
MILLBRAE POSES MASSIVE CHALLENGE: AYR v SELKIRK, MILLBRAE
Ayr will be keen to bounce back after their win streak ended at Old Anniesland last weekend and will back themselves to do just that at home against a stuttering Selkirk side with just one win in five.
Selkirk team news: Simon Willet and Darren Clapperton look likely to return after injury.
Selkirk head coach, Graham Marshall, said: “Travelling to Ayr is never easy and they will keen to get a win after a disappointing result last week. We have tried to keep focusing on improvements in our performance this week in training.”
Selkirk team to be announced
BASEMENT BATTLE: STIRLING COUNTY v WEST OF SCOTLAND, BRIDGEHAUGH
A win for either side could see them positioned in the all important top eight going past the half-way point to the cut-off.
Stirling County news: Drafted Edinburgh Rugby players David Denton and James King join the squad, Mike Doneghan returns after injury and Ben Addison drops to a strong bench.
Stirling County head coach, Eddie Pollock, said: “After a disappointment last week against Boroughmuir we are probably close to our strongest available squad for a crucial home match against a West side confident after a good win at home last week. This game will have a real bearing on how both teams may fare this year.”
West of Scotland team news: Connor Davis comes in at stand-off as Ally Stevenson is unavailable for selection.
West of Scotland head coach Keith Robertson, said: “This is going to be a very tough fixture away to Stirling we must look to build on last week good performance.”
Stirling County team:  Robbie McGowan; Graham Lindsay, Danny Gilmour, James King, Mike Doneghan; Stuart Edwards, Sean Kennedy; Mike McDonald, Alex Moffat, Gary Mountford, Tyler Edwards, Grant Gilchrist, Colin Eadie, Tim Clarke, Craig Deacons
Substitutes: John Graham, Craig Black, David Denton, Brian Archibald, Ben Addison
West of Scotland team: M Simm; K Matheson, R Dalgleish, M Horner, A McCall Hagan; C Davis, M McConnell; E McLaren, G Haswell, I Henderson, M Jenkinson, R McAlpine, D Young Capt, A De Ste Croix, C Morrison
Substitutes: C Marshaland, S D McKenna, J Walker, L Menzies, R Sinclair
DYMOCKS OF DUNDEE ON OPPOSITE SIDES: DUNDEE v HERIOT'S, MAYFIELD
Both teams go into this game on the back of very tight victories last week and will both be full of confidence – look out for the interesting exchanges between the Dundee locals and the “ex-pats”.
Dundee team news: Dundee’s pack gets the nod for the fourth week in a row  while the backline will be finalised later
Dundee director of rugby, Ian Rankin, said: “Having secured seven points from a potential 10 in our two back-to-back away games in the Borders, and scoring 10 tries in the process, the squad is pleased to be playing back at Mayfield this Saturday. With five ex-Dundee players in the Heriot’s line-up there will be a few interesting head to heads, with the bragging rights in the Dymock household very much up for grabs.”
Dundee team: (James Fleming or Peter Mutchie); Alan Hay, (Harry Duthie or Stewart Barlow), Peter Horne, (Matt Smith or Stewart Coleman); (Ali O’Connor or Rick McKenna), Andy Dymock; Neil Dymock, Simon Forrest, Alan Brown, Andy Linton, Richie Hawkins CAPTAIN, Chris Cumming, Rob Gray, Danny Levison
Substitutes: Callum Kerr, Darell Rusell, Ryan Milne, Rob Cessford
Heriot’s team: Colin Goudie; Glenn Bryce, Max Learmonth, Peter Saunders, Max Nimmo; Cameron Ferguson, Graham Wilson CAPTAIN; Alan Dymock, Scott Burnett, Wullie Blacklock, Ross Martin, Jason Hill, Jamie Parker, Peter Eccles, Mark Lee
Substitutes: Finlay Gillies, Gavin Cameron, Matthew Reid, Lawrie Seydak, Andrew Scott
WATSONIANS v HAWICK, MYRESIDE
Watsonians’ two league points have come from collecting a losing bonus in two of their five games so far and, while the have home advantage, they will face a Hawick sides whose performances could arguably justify a place higher in the league standings.
Watsonians team news: Teenager Jamie Forbes moves to the key position of stand-off with Doug Brown now on the wing. In the pack new arrival Andrew Porter slots in the back-row with Duncan Finnie away to university. Ex-George Watson’s pupil Tom Wright starts at hooker.
Hawick team news: This week the Hawick pack is bolsted by the addition of drafted Edinburgh professional Lewis Niven and Fraser McKenzie. Gary Johnstone is selected at full-back and Craig Robertson on the wing.
Hawick head coach Dererk Armstrong, said: “On our last visit to Myreside, we got thumped. We need to be focused this week to maintain our position as a defeat would make life difficult for the remaining games.”
Hawick team: Gary Johnstone; Craig Robertson, Stuart Hogg, Graham Hogg, Steven Anderson; Rory Hutton, Greg Cottrell; Bruce McNeil, Matthew Landels, Sean linton, Craig Charters, Fraser Mckenzie, Nick MacTaggart, Danny Landels, Keith Davies
Substitutes: Neil Renwick, David Lowrie, Gary Lowrie, Lewis Niven, Lindsey Gibson
Watsonians team: Alan Nash; Doug Brown, Andrew Skeen, Jamie Blackwood, Craig Sorbie; Jamie Forbes, Michael Ker; Scott Laird, Tom Wright, Dougie Orr, Dan Gorman, Ed Hunter, Sergiu Ursache, Andrew Porter, Harris Grant
Substitutes: Kian Coertze, Craig Owenson, Mike Fedo, Ben Di Rollo, Jon Mokomoko
 
Next >
[ Back ]

This article was posted on 25-Sep-2010, 09:48 by Hugh Barrow.