LEAGUE’S TOP TWO GO HEAD-TO-HEAD: BOROUGHMUIR v AYR, MEGGETLAND
Boroughmuir picked up their first defeat of the season last weekend but will have thier work cut out against current league leaders Ayr.
Boroughmuir head coach, Peter Blackhall, said: “Another tough game - but the squad are up for it after the disappointment of last week.”
Ayr team news: Ayr have made several changes from the team that played Selkirk last week. Cammy Taylor and Andy Wilson return to the squad after being absent through work and holiday commitments. Mark Stewart returns to the centre following two weeks out with a slight leg injury. Ryan Wilson has been released by Glasgow Warriors and will start on the blind-side flank and Damien Kelly returns to the squad following a leg injury.
Ayr coach, Kenny Murray, said: “It was good to get a win at home last week after our disappointing performance and defeat against Glasgow Hawks. Our performance was better against Selkirk but there are still areas for improvement. Last week’s team included two 17 year-olds and one 18-year old, which is a real positive for the future and demonstrates the club’s commitment to bringing on young talent.
“This week’s game against Boroughmuir will be a much tougher test for us and we will have to play with more physicality and intensity if we are to have a chance.”
Boroughmuir team: Stephen Ruddick; Harris Jones, Malcolm Clapperton, Stevie Wilson, Robert Cairns; Ali Warnock, Sam Johnson; Robin Hislop, Sean Crombie, Nick Fraser, Tom McColl, Ali Davidson, Jamie Doubleday, Nei Rodger, Derek O'Riordan Substitutes: Callum MacIntosh, Jonny Latta, Andrew Rose, Harry Leonard, Ross Neill
Ayr team: Grant Anderson; Andy Wilson, Mark Bennett, Mark Stewart, Cammy Taylor; Ross Curle, AJ MacFarlane; Gordon Reid, Stuart Fenwick, Gordon Sykes, Dean Stewart, Glen Tippett, Ryan Wilson, Johnno Crossan, Andrew Dunlop
Substitutes: Damien Kelly, Stephen Adair, Scott Nimmo / Jenz Robinson, Richard McCallum, Robbie Fergusson
GLASGOW HAWKS v DUNDEE, OLD ANNIESLAND
A convincing win over Heriot’s last weekend will see Dundee travel with confidence despite facing one of the top performing sides this season in third-placed Hawks.
Dundee team news: Rick McKenna gets the nod at stand-off after an astute performance last weekend, otherwise a very settled look to the side.
Dundee director of rugby, Ian Rankin, said: “Hawks have shown to be the most improved team in the league from last season and we travel to Glasgow knowing just how tough a challenge they will be. Last weeks result, and the margin of our victory over Heriot’s, was an excellent performance and was probably seen as a shock result by many pundits round the country. We must deliver a similar performance to continue our involvement in the top eight as fixture scheduling this weekend could create a real amount of movement.”
Glasgow Hawks team news: Craig Gossman has been ruled out. Glasgow Warrior’s Canadian international, Kevin Tkachuk, comes in for his first game with Glasgow Hawks, George Hunter drops to the bench and Andy Hill comes in for Bart Karalus.
Glasgow Hawks head coach, Peter Wright, said: “After a bitterly disappointing result last week at the Greenyards we are looking forward to this game. Dundee have been playing some great attacking rugby and we are trying to play an expensive game so this could be a cracker.”
Glasgow Hawks team: Robbie Hair; Joffy White, Dean Kelbrick, Tom Preece, Tom Steven; Andy White, Kris Hamilton; Kevin Tkachuk, Eric Milligan, Adrian Smith, Rory Hamilton, Andy Kirkland, Rory McKay, Andy Hill, Ross Miller
Substitutes: Gary Strain, George Hunter, Grant Strang, Paddy Boyer, David Milne
Dundee team: Ali O’Connor; Matt Smith, Harry Duthie, Conor Wade, James Fleming; Rick McKenna, Andy Dymock; Neil Dymock, Simon Forrest, Alan Brown, Andy Linton, Richie Hawkins CAPTAIN, Chris Cumming, Rob Gray, Danny Levison
Substitutes: Callum Kerr, Darrel Russell, Ryan Milne, Rob Cessford, Colin Strachan
SELKIRK v MELROSE, PHILIPHAUGH
Saturday’s border derby at Philiphaugh is between two sides at the opposite ends of the table. Can Selkirk draw on home advantage to cause an upset?
Selkirk team news: Gordon Patterson, Rory Aglen and Callum Marshall are all available this week and come back into the squad.
Selkirk head coach, Graham Marshall, said: “We need a performance to kick start the season and give the players some confidence. However, local derbies are always tough and Melrose will be keen to build on a good win last week.”
Melrose team news: Only one change to last weekend’s starting line-up, where Gary Holborn comes in for Ritchie Higgins at tight-head prop.
Melrose head coach, Craig Chalmers, said: “Another must win game. Borders derbies are very unpredictable and we know how difficult a place Philiphaugh is to go and get a positive result. We must focus on our quality of performance as it has not been where it should be the last couple of weeks. I’m looking forward to a big crowd and an excellent atmosphere on Saturday afternoon.”
Selkirk team: Fraser Harkness; Niall Godsmark, David Cassidy, Ross Armstrong, Darren Clapperton; Gavin Craig, Michael McVie; Rob Taylor, Matt Martin, Matthew Weller, Callum Marshall, Simon Willett, Neil Darling, Ryan Godsmark, Andrew Renwick
Substitutes: Stuart Forrest, Callum Johnstone, Rory Aglen, Gordon Patterson, Ally Lyall
Melrose team: F Thomson; C Anderson, J Murray, C Murray, A Dodds; S Wight, R Chrystie; N Little, W Mitchell, G Holborn, G Elder, H Mitchell, J Dalziel, G Runciman, G Dodds
Substitutes: G Innes, K Cooney, R Miller, S McCormick, C Hardie
WEST OF SCOTLAND v CURRIE, BURNBRAE
Third-bottom West of Scotland will have their work cut out against a Currie side who appear to have recovered from their new-season hoodoo.
Currie team news: Andrew Binikos starts at stand-off in place of Matt Scott. Ross Merilees starts at prop having shown real improvement in the last month.
Currie head coach, Ally Donaldson, said: “West [of Scotland] are always tough at Burnbrae, have won two of their three home matches to date and ran Stirling close away at Bridgehaugh. We appear to be improving each week but would still like to produce a more consistent performance to show what we’re capable of.”
West of Scotland team news: Jonny Curteis, Jack Walker, Dave McFarlane and Colin Marshal all make their firsts starts of the season, Ally Stevenson comes back into the side with Conor Davis moving to the bench. Graham Fiskin, Aiden McCall Hagan and Scott Carmichael all come onto the bench.
West of Scotland head coach, Keith Robertson, said: “We are hoping to build on our last performance at home, we know it will be a tough fixture against Currie.”
Currie team: Johnny Smith; Alan Whittingham, James Johnston, Andy MacMahon, Douglas Fife; Andrew Binikos, Richard Snedden; John Cox, Fergus Scott, Ross Merrilees, Ryan Wilson, Andy Adam CAPTAIN, Mark Cairns, Michael Entwhistle, Ross Weston
Substitutes: Stu Simonsen, Neil Scobie, Gary Temple, Matt Scott, Andrew Easson
West of Scotland team: M Simm; J Curteis, R Dalgleish, K Matheson, C McKenzie; A Stevenson, M McConnel; E McLaren, D McKenna, C Marshal, M Jenkinson, R McAlpine, D Young CAPTAIN, J Walker, D McFarlane
Substitutes: I Henderson, S Carmichel, G Fiskin, A McCall Hagan, C Davis
 

This article was posted on 1-Oct-2010, 18:41 by Hugh Barrow.