ROUND 11: PREMIER 1 PREVIEW
Friday, 29 October 2010

With just one game remaining until the Premier 1 and 2 split, the informed eyes are fixed on the battle between Stirling County and Hawick for a place in the top eight and the narrow gap between the top six Premier 2 clubs capable of making the top-four cut-off.
Premier 1 fixtures: Stirling County v Melrose, West v Heriot's, Currie v Ayr, Watsonians v Dundee, Boroughmuir v Glasgow Hawks, Selkirk v Hawick
Premier 2 fixtures: Edinburgh Accies v Stewart’s Melville, Hillhead/Jordanhill v Aberdeen Grammar, Jed-Forest v Biggar, Kelso v GHA, Peebles v Gala, Kirkcaldy v Falkirk
SELKIRK v HAWICK, PHILIPHAUGH
Border rivals Selkirk stand in between Hawick and a place in the top eight and a chance to play for the British & Irish Cup qualification.
Selkirk team news: Andrew Renwick returns at number 8 with Ciaran Beattie coming in on the wing for Scott Hendrie, who moves to outside-centre.
Selkirk head coach, Graham Marshall, said: “We’re looking forward to a keenly fought game against Hawick who had a great win against Currie last week. We need a good performance to take some confidence into the play offs and I’m sure all the players are excited about playing in front of a big Border crowd.”
Hawick team news: Greg Cottrell is rested after his injury last week which hands Bruce Campbell his first start. Edinburgh Rugby’s Lewis Niven also makes his first start for the club with Rory Sutherland added to the squad.
Hawick head coach, Derek Armstrong, said: “We have everything to play for but don’t expect any favours from Selkirk.”
Hawick team: (backs from) Graham Hogg, Steven Anderson, Garry Johnstone, Alex Dunbar, Greg Anderson, Craig Robertson, Rory Hutton, Bruce Campbell; Sean Linton, Lindsey Gibson, Lewis Niven, Craig Charters, Michael Robertson, David Lowrie, Danny Landles, Bruce McNeil CAPTAIN
Substitutes: Keith Davies, Nick MacTaggart, Rory Sutherland, Matthew Landles
Selkirk team: Fraser Harkness CAPTAIN; Ciaran Beattie, Scott Hendrie, Ross Armstrong, Darren Clapperton; David Cassidy, Michael McVie; Gordon Paterson, Matthew Martin, Rob Taylor, Callum Marshall, Simon Willett, Neil Darling, Ryan Godsmark, Andrew Renwick
Substitutes from: Stuart Forrest, Matt Weller, Callum Johnstone, Conor Patton, Rory Banks, Nyle Godsmark
STIRLING COUNTY v MELROSE, BRIDGEHAUGH
Only Stirling County can pip Hawick to the final place in the top eight but to do so they must take on a title challenging Melrose side.
Stirling County team news: Colin Eadie, Tim Clarke  and Mike Doneghan are unavailable through injury.
Stirling County head coach, Eddie Pollock, said: “This is a must win game for us if we want to give ourselves a chance of a top eight spot. Melrose will be desperate to keep in touch with Ayr going in to the split. It all makes for a good game.”
Melrose team news: In the backs Robert Chrystie returns at scrum-half in place of Scott McCormick. Dave McCall (Glasgow Warriros) replaces Alex Blair (Edinburgh Rugby) on the left wing. Wayne Mitchell replaces Graham Innes at hooker. On the bench Fraser Brown (Edinburgh Rugby) comes in as reserve hooker. Nicky Little is ill and is replaced by Nick Beavon at Loosehead.
Melrose coach, Craig Chalmers, said: “Looking at this game we realise how difficult it will be. County must get a win to put Hawick under pressure in their game at Selkirk and we must win to stay in touch with Ayr at the top. Stirling have a rich crop of young talent and we will have to be at our best to get a positive result.”
Stirling County team: Robbie McGowan; Ben Addison, David Lyall, Brian Archibald, Graeme Lindsay; Stuart Edwards, Sean Kennedy; Mike McDonald, Alex Moffat, Gary Mountford, Grant Gilchrist, Craig Deacons, Dave Denton, Struan Robertson, Bengy Barsanti
Substitutes: John Graham, Craig Black, Tyler Edwards, Robbie Boswell, Jonny Hope
Melrose team: F Thomson; C Anderson, J Murray, E Ford, D McCall; S Wight, R Chrystie; N Beavon, W Mitchell, G Holborn, G Elder, H Mitchell, J Dalziel, G Runciman, G Dodds
Substitutes: F Brown, G Innes, R Miller, C Hardie, C Murray
CURRIE v AYR, MALLENEY PARK
Last season’s clear league leaders and adversaries, Currie and Ayr, go head to head at Malleny Park this weekend. Champions Currie have yet to replicate the form showed last season while current table-toppers and cup holders, Ayr, are back to the ways of their 08/09 league winning campaign.
Currie team news: Andrew Turnbull starts on the wing and Hayden Abercrombie moves to outside-centre. James Johnstone drops out a fully fit Johnny Smith goes to full-back and Matt Scott moves forward to stand-off. Gary Temple replaces Adam Best.
Currie head coach, Ally Donaldson, said: “Ayr are not top of the league by luck and they haven’t been far off that position for three seasons now. They present a formidable challenge and we will have to be better than we have been of late.”
Ayr team news: Ayr have made several changes to the squad that played Stirling County last week. Andy Dunlop (unavailable last week due to a wedding) returns to the squad and starts at number 8 in place of Glen Tippet who moves to the bench. Grant Anderson and Steven Adair return from injury to start at full-back and at hooker respectively.
Ayr head coach, Kenny Murray, said: “The new league format has brought excitement and anticipation to Premier 1, with every game having significant importance for both teams. Ayr welcomes this and hopes that it will continue in the future. The seven games after the split will provide a cup final feel to every game and will no doubt make for some great contests. Currie have not lost a Premier 1 game at home in 2 seasons so it will be a huge challenge for Ayr to get a win.”
Currie team: Johnny Smith; Andrew Turnbull, Hayden Abercrombie, Andy MacMahon, Douglas Fife; Matt Scott, Richard Snedden; John Cox, Stu Simonsen, Alastair Hamilton, Ryan Wilson, Gary Temple, Mark Cairns CAPTAIN, Michael Entwhistle, Ross Weston
Substitutes: Fergus Scott, Ross Merrilees, Steve Burton, Andrew Binikos, James Johnstone
Ayr team: Grant Anderson Andy Wilson Mark Bennett Richard McCallum Cammy Taylor Ross Curle AJ MacFarlane; Gordon Reid, Steven Adair, Stuart Fenwick, Damien Kelly, Dean Stewart, Jono Crossan, Robbie Colhoun, Andy Dunlop
Substitutes: Frazier Climo, Scott Forrest, Scott Nimmo, Andy Kelly, Glen Tippett
BOROUGHMUIR v GLASGOW HAWKS, MEGGETLAND
Like Currie and Ayr, these teams are guaranteed a place in the top eight and are now focused fully on the championship and the qualification of the British & Irish Cup. Despite a great start to the campaign, sixth-placed Boroughmuir have won just once in the last five attempts while the prolific third-placed Hawks are on a four game winning streak (the most recent of which was a 92-0 thrashing of Selkirk).
Boroughmuir team news: Professional players Jack Gilding (Edinburgh Rugby) and Chris Fusaro (Glasgow Warriors) have been made available by Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors – both will start. Sam Johnson starts at scrum-half after a good second-half performance last week. Stephen Ruddick returns from holiday and slots in at full-back and Harris Jones moves onto the wing.
Boroughmuir head coach, Peter Blackhall, said: “After a tight game at Goldenacre last week we welcome Hawks to Meggetland. This should be another open game with both sides wishing to play rugby.”
Glasgow Hawks team news: Hawks will field the same back division as last week with only one change in the forwards which sees George Hunter replace Ryan Grant. On the bench Nico Nyamba and new father Rory McKay return.
Glasgow Hawks head coach, Peter Wright, said: “After a good performance last week it’s vital that our players keep their feet on the ground for what will be a very difficult game at Meggetland.”
Boroughmuir team: Stephen Ruddick; Ross Neill, Malcolm Clapperton, Harry Leonard, Harris Jones; Ali Warnock, Sam Johnson; Nick Fraser, Callum MacIntosh, Jack Gilding, Greig Scott, Ali Davidson, Neil Rodger, Chris Fusaro, Jamie Doubleday
Substitutes: Greg Jones, Jonny Latta, Tom McColl, Derek O'Riordan, Mark Hare 
Glasgow Hawks team: Craig Gossman; Joffy White, Dean Kelbrick, David Milne, Kerr Gossman; Mike Adamson, Kris Hamilton; Gary Strain, Eric Milligan, George Hunter, Rory Hamilton, Nick Campbell, Grant Strang, Bart Karalus, Ross Miller
Substitutes: Adrian Smith, Nico Nyamba, Rory McKay, Robbie Hair, Tom Preece
WEST OF SCOTLAND v HERIOT'S, BURNBRAE
Consigned to the post-split Group 2, West of Scotland have only pride to play for as the league currently stands but having performed admirably this season they will want to take momentum into Group 2 as they prepare to fight for the chance to return to Premier 1 next season. Fourth-placed Heriot’s are in desperate need of points to keep up the pressure on the three available B&I Cup places.
Heriot’s team news: Former Dundee back-row Stefan Dreyer is involved with the 1st XV squad for the first time and starts on the bench alongside Richard Mill who has returned to Scotland after a summer playing for Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, Australia.
Heriot’s team: Colin Goudie; Glenn Bryce, Max Learmonth, Gregor Hunter, Max Nimmo; Cameron Ferguson, Graham Wilson CAPTAIN; Alan Dymock, Scott Burnett, Gavin Cameron, Jason Hill, Chukwuma Osazuwa, Peter Eccles, Struan Dewar, Jamie Syme
Substitutes: Finlay Gillies, Wullie Blacklock, Stefan Dreyer, Michael Goldie, Richard Mill
WATSONIANS v DUNDEE, MYRESIDE
With just one win all season Watsonians are expected to struggle against the most prolific side in the league, seventh-placed Dundee.
Watsonians team news: In the back-row Harris Grant and new arrival Jono Ellis from the GPS club in Brisbane will start.
Watsonians team: Jamie Forbes; Matt Henderson, Andrew Skeen, Alan Nash CAPTAIN, Craig Sorbie; Ross Aitken, Jamie Blackwood; Scott Laird, Nick Hart, Kian Coertze, Donald Seed, Dan Gorman, Harris Grant, Andrew Porter, Jono Ellis
Substitutes: Craig Owenson, Dougie Orr, Stuart McInally, Mike Ker, Tom Rainey
 

This article was posted on 29-Oct-2010, 13:14 by Hugh Barrow.