Thursday, 07 October 2010

Pressure mounts in Premier 1 as just four games remain before the mid-season split scythes off the leagues top eight performers.
Second placed Glasgow Hawks travel across to Edinburgh on Saturday to take on Heriot’s with both sides desperate to maintain a sure footing in the top eight; Boroughmuir have lost the last two games on the trot and travel to the notoriously difficult Melrose in search of a return to form; despite six league spaces separating them and the champions, Watsonians will be acutely aware that Currie have done so with just two wins so far this season; Dundee will consider their seventh placing in the league a little too close to the split for comfort however Selkirk will travel with confidence after running third placed Melrose close last weekend; Pace-setters Ayr host a West of Scotland side who will have to tighten their defensive efforts at Millbrae if they are to come away with the spoils; Stirling County (ninth) and Hawick (eighth) operate on the fringes of the split and a win for either will edge them further into the reckoning.

HERIOT'S v GLASGOW HAWKS, GOLDENACRE
Second placed Glasgow Hawks travel across to Edinburgh on Saturday to take on a Heriot’s side desperate to maintain a sure footing in the top eight.
Glasgow Hawks team news: Kerr Gossman comes back from injury and replaces Tom Steven. In the forwards, George Hunter and Bart Karalus replace Kevin Tkachuk and Andy Hill
Glasgow Hawks head coach, Peter Wright, said: “After a patchy performance against Dundee last week, where we got out of jail a bit, the coaches and players are looking for a much improved performance against Heriot’s who, like ourselves, have been a bit patchy. It could be a good game with some really exciting players in both teams.”
Heriot’s team to selected from: (backs from) Glenn Bryce, Cameron Ferguson, Colin Goudie, Gregor Hunter, Max Learmonth, Max Nimmo, Peter Saunders, Graham Wilson CAPTAIN, (forwards from) Wullie Blacklock, Kevin Bryce, Scott Burnett, Gavin Cameron, Struan Dewar, Alan Dymock, Finlay Gillies, Jason Hill, Mark Lee, Ross Martin, Chukwuma Osazuwa, Jamie Parker, Lawrie Seydak, Jamie Syme
Glasgow Hawks team: Robbie Hair; 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, Paddy Boyer, David Milne
MELROSE v BOROUGHMUIR, THE GREENYARDS
A win for league neighbours Melrose and Boroughmuir would do their chances of staying in the top eight the world of good. Despite a great start, Boroughmuir have lost the last two games on the trot and go to the notoriously difficult Greenyards in search of a return to form.
Melrose team news: Melrose will field the same starting team as last weekend (against Selkirk). Two changes on the bench see Nick Beavon and Scott McCormick replace Kieran Cooney and Chris Hardie.
Melrose head coach, Craig Chalmers, said: “It’s yet another must win game for us against a team who have been going pretty well all season. For a team with so many changes in personnel, Boroughmuir have gelled very quickly.”
Boroughmuir team: The Meggetlanders have made a couple of changes in the pack: Greig Scott returns after injury in the second-row after a good showing for the 2nd XV last week. Andrew Rose gets a start at blind-side flanker with Derek O'Riodan dropping to the bench. Greg Jones, brother of Harris, replaces Callum MacIntosh on the bench. Scrum-half Ross Samson is released by Edinburgh and joins the bench.
Boroughmuir head coach, Peter Blackhall, said: “This will be another hard game after last week. The squad is up for it as the games against Melrose are always good open games. The top eight is quite tight so it’s important to come away with points from this game.”
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, N Beavon, R Miller, S McCormick, E Ford
Boroughmuir team: Stephen Ruddick; Ross Neill, Malcolm Clapperton, Harry Leonard, Robert Cairns; Ally Warnock, Sam Johnson; Robin Hislop, Sean Crombie, Nick Fraser, Greig Scott, Ali Davidson, Andrew Rose, Jamie Doubleday, Neil Rodger
Substitutes: Greg Jones, Jonny Latta, Derek O'Riodan, Harris Jones, Ross Samson
CURRIE v WATSONIANS, MALLENY PARK
Watsonians got their league campaign off to a late start with a narrow win over Stirling County last weekend but, despite six league spaces separating them and the champions, they will be acutely aware that Currie have done so with just two wins so far this season.
Currie team news: Alastair Hamilton, John Cox and Richard Snedden all return to the starting line up. Gary Temple continues at lock after very ably filling in for Andy Adam last week, who returns on the bench. Fergus Scott and Andy MacMahon have recovered from the injuries which forced them to leave the pitch early last Saturday.
Currie head coach, Ally Donaldson, said: “We are still seeking consistency in our game. Our first-half last week was disappointing but we did bounce back to win the second-half 33-010 and scored five tries in that half. Watsonians will have taken great heart from their first win on Saturday and will look to build on that.”
Currie team: Johnny Smith; Alan Whittingham, James Johnston, Andy MacMahon, Douglas Fife; Matt Scott, Richard Snedden; John Cox, Fergus Scott, Alastair Hamilton, Ryan Wilson, Gary Temple, Mark Cairns, Michael Entwhistle, Ross Weston
Substitutes: Stu Simonsen, Ross Merrilees, Andy Adam, Andrew Binikos, Iain Downie
DUNDEE v SELKIRK, MAYFIELD
Dundee will consider their seventh placing in the league a little too close to the split for comfort and having traditionally performed well at Mayfield however Selkirk will travel with confidence after running third placed Melrose close last weekend.
Dundee team news: Peter Horne and Peter Murchie have been released by Glasgow Warriors and will be included in the Dundee squad as their attitude and commitment has been reported as excellent. Their inclusion does however create a selection headache for head coach Ian Rankin who has delayed announcing his final line-up.
Dundee director of rugby, Ian Rankin, said: “The nature of our defeat by one point to Hawks last weekend has, if anything, galvanised all involved and, while we were happy with the number of tries we scored at Old Anniesland, we need to avoid being forced to play men down due to yellow cards.
“As we reach the last four games before the split, every point is precious with the league still very tight. Having watched Selkirk run Melrose close last week in a typical border derby we fully understand the challenge they bring to Dundee.”
Selkirk team news: One or two late decisions see Gavin Craig and Ross Armstrong drop out the backline to be replaced by Ally Lyall and Ross Nixon. In the forwards, Andrew Renwick has failed to recover sufficiently from an injury picked up last week however able Edinburgh Rugby replacement, Steven Turnbull, comes in at second-row with Callum Marshall moving to number 8. Mikey Davies and John Everitt join the squad for the first time this season.
Selkirk head coach, Graham Marshall, said: "In the second-half last week we played with a real enthusiasm and the challenge this week is to generate the same energy levels when we make the difficult journey to Dundee."
Dundee team: Ali O’Connor/Peter Murchie; Matt Smith/Alan Hay, Harry Duthie/Colin Strachan,  
Peter Horne/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, Darell Rusell, Ryan Milne, Rob Cessford, tbc
Selkirk team: Fraser Harkness; Niall Godsmark, Ross Nixon, Ally Lyall, Darren Clapperton; David Cassidy, Michael McVie; Gordon Patterson, Matt Martin, Rob Taylor, Steven Turnbull, Simon Willett, Neil Darling, Callum Johnstone, Callum Marshall
Substitutes: Stuart Forrest, Matthew Weller, John Everitt, Ryan Godsmark, Mikey Davies
AYR v WEST OF SCOTLAND, MILLBRAE
Pace-setters Ayr host a West of Scotland who will have to tighten their defensive efforts at Millbrae if they are to come away with the spoils this weekend.
Ayr team news: Glasgow Warriors players Ryan Wilson and Pat McArthur have been released to play. Ryan starts at open-side flanker and Pat starts on the bench. Ayr will field the same starting back-line as last week, with the exception of Richard McCallum who starts in place of Mark Stewart. Scott Nimmo starts in place of Glen Tippett who moves to the bench. Damien Kelly continues his recovery from injury on the bench while 17 year-old Murray Beckwith is poised to make his 1st XV debut from the bench.
Ayr head coach, Kenny Murray, said: “Last week’s win against Boroughmuir was an important hurdle for us and we are glad to remain on the top spot. We expect a very tough match against West this week following their excellent performance against Currie. The first part of the season has shown that all the teams in the league are capable of beating each other. The next three weeks will see the first half of the league games played and everyone will be fighting to maximise points.”
West of Scotland team news: Greg Haswell comes onto bench after performing well for 2nd XV last week while Scott Carmichael and Graham Fiskin make their first starts of the season. Fiskin takes over the captaincy.
West of Scotland head coach, Keith Robertson, said: We are looking forward to another tough fixture against the top side in the league.”
Ayr team: Grant Anderson; Andrew Wilson, Mark Bennett, Richard McCallum, Cammy Taylor; Ross Curle, AJ MacFarlane; Gordon Reid, Stephen Adair, Gordon Sykes, Dean Stewart, Scott Nimmo, Jono Crossan, Ryan Wilson, Andrew Dunlop
Substitutes: Damien Kelly, Glen Tippett, Pat McArthur, Murray Beckwith, Dougie Steele
West of Scotland team: M Simm, J Curtis, R Dalgleish, K Matheson, C McKenzie; A Stevenson, M McConnell; E McLaren, S Carmichael C Marshal R McAlpine M Jenkinson J Walker D McFarlane G Fiskin CAPTAIN
Substitutes: I Henderson, G Haswell, C Morrison, S Malone, C Davis
STIRLING COUNTY v HAWICK, BURNBRAE
Stirling County (ninth) and Hawick (eighth) operate on the fringes of the split and a win for either will edge them further into the reckoning.
Stirling County news: David Denton comes in to the squad from Edinburgh to add strength to the squad. At number 8 Bengy Barsanti starts in place of Craig Deacons, who moves to the bench. On the wing Mike Doneghan starts and Ben Addison drops to the bench.
Stirling County head coach, Eddie Pollock, said: “It’s a much used cliché but this is a must win for both teams. It promises to be a cracker!”
Stirling County team: Robbie McGowan; Graham Lindsay, Danny Gilmour, Brian Archibald, Mike Doneghan; Stuart Edwards, Sean Kennedy; Mike McDonald, Alex Moffat, Gary Mountford, Tyler Edwards, Grant Gilchrist, Colin Eadie, Tim Clarke, Bengy Barsanti
Substitutes: Andy Simpson, Craig Black, David Denton, Craig Deacons, Ben Addison

This article was posted on 8-Oct-2010, 09:26 by Hugh Barrow.