Friday, 15 October 2010

Mathematicians and rugby supporters unite this weekend as Premier 1 clubs assess their chances of making the top-eight after the league split in three games time.
While league leaders Ayr guaranteed their place in the top-eight last weekend, second and third-placed Glasgow Hawks and Melrose can join them with a win over Saturday’s opponents Hawick and West of Scotland.
Anything but a win will consign Watsonians to the second-tier and the battle for a place in Premier 1 next season. If Selkirk lose or draw without a bonus-point, they too will find themselves in tier two.
BOROUGHMUIR v DUNDEE, MEGGETLAND
Win for either Boroughmuir (fifth) and Dundee (sixth) could edge them closer to securing their place in the top eight so expect a no holds barred encounter.
Boroughmuir team news: Edinburgh have released three professionals to Boroughmuir this week – new signing David Bishop, Jack Gilding and Ross Samson, all of whom will start the match at wing, prop and scrum-half respectively. Ross Neill returns to the opposite wing and Callum MacIntosh starts at hooker. Harris Jones starts at full-back in place of the unavailable Stephen Ruddick.
Peter Blackhall, Boroughmuir head coach, said: “Dundee have had some high-scoring games recently so we are looking forward to an open game at Meggetland. This is an important game for both teams as they seek to secure their place in the top eight for the second-half of the season.”
Dundee team news: Wing Matt Smith makes a welcome return after becoming a father last Saturday, and Conor Wade moves back to centre with Stuart Coleman taking his place on the bench.
Ian Rankin, Dundee head coach, said: “Although Boroughmuir have lost their last three matches, the introduction of three Edinburgh pros will boost their confidence and test their team dynamics. We are determined to be part of the top eight and need another quality performance to achieve this goal with only three games left before the split.”
Boroughmuir team: Harris Jones; David Bishop, Malcolm Clapperton, Harry Leonard, Ross Neill; Ali Warnock, Ross Samson;  Nick Fraser, Callum MacIntosh, Jack Gilding, Greig Scott, Ali Davidson, Andrew Rose, Neil Rodger, Jamie Doubleday.
Substitutes: Greg Jones, Jonny Latta, Derek O'Riordan, Sam Johnson, Graeme Blackhall
Dundee team: Peter Murchie; Matt Smith, Harry Duthie, Conor Wade, James Fleming; Rick McKenna, Andy Dymock; Neil Dymock, Simon Forrest, Darell Russell, Andy Linton, Richie Hawkins CAPTAIN, Chris Cumming, Rob Gray, Danny Levison
Substitutes: Callum Kerr, Alan Brown, Ryan Milne, Rob Cessford, Stewart Coleman
HAWICK v GLASGOW HAWKS, MANSFIELD
Hawick will have a tough task of getting their first home win of the season against second-placed Glasgow Hawks.
Hawick team news: Danny Landles, Greg Anderson and Stuart Hogg all picked up knocks against Stirling County last week which provides opportunity for others to step up. Edinburgh professional prop, Lewis Niven, joins the bench and while Rory Sutherland and Ali Wear get the chance to make their debut from the bench.
Derek Armstrong, Hawick head coach, said: “Hawks are in good form this season and will be looking to gain full points but the Green Machine are determined to get a first home win of the season.”
Glasgow Hawks team news: In the backs, David Milne starts in place of Tom Preece who drops to the bench and Glasgow Warriors’ Kevin Tkachuk and Aly Muldowney start at prop and second-row. George Hunter will move to the bench and will be joined by Nick Campbell who has recovered from a long term knee injury.
Peter Wright, Glasgow Hawks head coach, said: “This is going to be a very tough game at Mansfield Park with Hawick looking to stay out of the bottom four. They have the second highest number of bonus-points in the league which tells us that they can play and that when they lose it’s often by a score or less. We have a number of players who have never played at Hawick and are really looking forward to the experience.”
Hawick team: Graham Hogg; Neil Renwick, Garry Johnstone, Alex Dunbar, Steven Anderson; Rory Hutton, Greg Cottrell; Alastair Marsh, Lindsey Gibson, Sean Linton, Craig Charters, Michael Robertson, Nick MacTaggart, Keith Davies, Bruce Mcneil CAPTAIN
Substitutes: Hue Scammell, Lewis Niven, David Lowrie, Rory Sutherland, Ali Wear
Glasgow Hawks team: Robbie Hair; Joffy White, Dean Kelbrick, David Milne, Kerr Gossman; Andy White, Kris Hamilton; Adrian Smith, Eric Milligan, Kevin Tkachuk, Rory Hamilton, Aly Muldowney, Rory McKay, Bart Karalus, Ross Miller
Substitutes: Gary Strain, George Hunter, Nick Campbell, Tom Preece, Grant Strang
SELKIRK v HERIOT'S, PHILIPHAUGH
Selkirk will be ruled out (mathematically) of the top-eight unless they beat or draw with a bonus-point against a seventh-placed Heriot’s side desperate to distance themselves from the threat of the league’s 8th/9th-place split.
Selkirk team news: Rory Banks and Euan MacDougall come into the squad to replace Gavin Craig and Andrew Renwick, who are out injured.
Graham Marhshall, Selkirk head coach, said: “This game is where we start our preparation for the play off games. We need to generate some momentum with positive performances over the next four weeks before the Premier 1 dog-fight begins.”
Selkirk team: F Harkness; N Godsmark, R Nixon, R Armstrong, D Clapperton; D Cassidy, M McVie; G Patterson, S Forrest, M Weller, S Willett, C Patton, N Darling, C Johnstone, C Marshall
Substitutes: M Martin, R Taylor, E MacDougall, R Godsmark, R Banks
Heriot’s team: Colin Goudie; Glenn Bryce, Max Learmonth, Callum Mark, Max Nimmo; Gregor Hunter, Graham Wilson CAPTAIN, Alan Dymock Scott Burnett Gavin Cameron Jason Hill Chukwuma Osazuwa Struan Dewar Mark Lee Jamie Syme
Substitutes: Kevin Bryce, Wullie Blacklock, Matthew Reid, Greg Walker, Cameron Ferguson
STIRLING COUNTY v CURRIE, BRIDGEHAUGH
The visit of resurgent league champions Currie is the first of three tough fixtures for eighth-placed County leading into the league split.
Stirling County news: Jonny Hope and Gordon McRorie replace the injured Danny Gilmour and Sean Kennedy. We will finalise the team this evening
Eddie Pollock, Stirling County, head coach: “After last week’s good win over Hawick, we have a lot to play for on Saturday. A match against the champions at home is a great challenge and we must play our best if we are to continue moving up the table.”
Currie team news: Ulster under-20 lock, Adam Best, makes his debut after impressing. On the bench
Steve Burton and Hayden Abercrombie return after injuries and Denis Pech, a member of last year’s Scottish Cup winning Colts team, is set to make his 1st XV debut from the bench.
Ally Donaldson, Currie head coach, said: Stirling at Bridgehaugh is always a challenge and they will see this as an opportunity to cement their place in the top eight. We played some excellent rugby last week and need still to improve our concentration for 80 minutes.”
Stirling County squad: (backs) Robbie McGowan; Ben Addison, Mike Doneghan, Jonny Hope, Graeme Lindsay, Brian Archibald, Stuart Edwards, Gordon McRorie; (forwards) Mike McDonald, Andy Simpson, Alex Moffat, Gary Mountford, Craig Black, Grant Gilchrist, Tyler Edwards, Colin Eadie, Craig Deacons, Tim Clarke, Dave Denton, Bengy Barsanti
Currie team: Matt Scott; Alan Whittingham, James Johnston, Andy MacMahon, Douglas Fife; Andrew Binikos, Richard Snedden; Ross Merrilees, Fergus Scott, Alastair Hamilton, Ryan Wilson, Adam Best, Mark Cairns CAPTAIN, Michael Entwhistle, Ross Weston
Substitutes: Stu Simonsen, Neil Scobie, Steve Burton, Denis Pech, Hayden Abercrombie
WEST OF SCOTLAND v MELROSE, BURNBRAE
West of Scotland have won the same number of games that Melrose have lost (two) but can take heart from the fact that both of those losses have been on the road.
West of Scotland news: Mark Davis and Gregor Ross come in to make there first starts of the season for the 1st XV.
Keith Robertson, West of Scotland head coach, said: “It’s another tough fixture but we are at Burnbrae and are looking to build on our recent home form.”
Melrose team news: Only change to last Saturday’s squad is on the left wing where Cammie Murray comes in for Alan Dodds, who is on holiday.
Craig Chalmers, Melrose head coach, said: “After a good performance last weekend against Boroughmuir, the big challenge for us is to back that up against West of Scotland. That won’t be easy as this young West side are improving every week and fighting hard to get into the top eight.”
West of Scotland team: M Simm; J Curteis, R Dalgleish, S Malone, C McKenzie; A Stevenson, M Davis; E McLaren G Haswell, G Ross, R McAlpine, S Barnes, A de Ste Croix, D McFarlane, G Fiskin
Substitutes: I Henderson, S Carmichael, S MacDonald, A McCall-Hagan, C Davis
Melrose team: F Thomson; C Anderson, J Murray, E Ford, C Murray; 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, C Jackson
WATSONIANS v AYR, MYRESIDE
Watsonians will be ruled out (mathematically) of the top-eight unless they can muster a performance to beat current league leaders, Ayr, at home this weekend.
Watsonians news: The pack is the same as last week after competing well with a strong Currie eight. Edinburgh Rugby’s Simon Webster is not available so Ross Aitken comes in with the exact make-up of the backline to be confirmed.
Ayr team news: Ayr have made six changes to the starting team that played West of Scotland last week: Pat McArthur is released by Glasgow and starts at hooker, Stuart Fenwick returns from holiday and starts at prop, Damien Kelly starts only his second game of the season following his 50 minute stint against West last week, Robbie Colhoun returns to the squad following an injury sustained at Dundee early September, Glen Tippett starts at number 8 and Dougie Steele replaces Grant Anderson (injured) at full-back.
Peter Laverie, Ayr assistant coach, said: “We have mixed emotions after last week’s win against West of Scotland. Although we won the game by six tries to two, the quality of certain aspects of our performance was extremely poor. The players are aware that they must improve their performance if they are to mount a serious challenge for the title. This week’s game against Watsonians will be another tough away fixture for us. They held Currie to a tight score until the last 10 to 15 minutes last week and will want to build on that this week at home.”
Watsonians team: (backs from) Alan Nash CAPTAIN, Craig Sorbie, Ross Aitken, Andrew Skeen, Jamie Blackwood, Doug Brown, Jamie Forbes, Andrew Killerby, Michael Ker; (forwards) Scott Laird, Nick Hart, Kian Coertze, Dan Gorman, Donald Seed, Sergiu Ursache, Andrew Porter, Harris Grant
Substitutes: Craig Owenson, Danny Moussa, Hamish Gee, backs tbc
Ayr team: Dougie Steele; Andy Wilson, Mark Bennett, Richard McCallum, Cammy Taylor; Ross Curle,  AJ MacFarlane; Gordon Reid, Pat McArthur, Stuart Fenwick, Damien Kelly, Dean Stewart, Andy Dunlop, Robbie Colhoun, Glen Tippett
Substitutes: Gordon Sykes, Scott Nimmo, Stephen Adair, Robbie Fergusson, Murray Beckwith

This article was posted on 15-Oct-2010, 17:20 by Hugh Barrow.