Experienced campaigner Rory McKay returns to the Glasgow Hawks line-up as the RBS National League leaders look to make it a magnificent seventh at Inverleith this afternoon.


They have already seen off the challenges of Watsonians, Biggar, Kelso, Hamilton, Selkirk and Jed-Forest to build up a lead of four points at the top of the division. And today they can make it seven wins on the bounce with victory over Stewart’s Melville.

Former captain McKay, a club international cap, is back in the second-row while Mike Martin comes in at 13 after missing the last couple of weeks.

Haddon Macpherson keeps teen talent Sean Yacoubian on the bench after good showings at scrum-half in recent outings.

Co-coach Jamie Dempsey said: “Stewart’s Melville were one of the teams many were tipping to challenge for the top positions in the league and their form in the past few weeks has demonstrated that with wins against Kelso and Hamilton.

“They are a well coached squad who will play good rugby and we will have to be on our game to compete.”

Stewart’s Melville have captain Scott Brewster back after injury, and in stand-off Mike Hanning they have one of the in-form players in the division.

Second-placed Watsonians are going for six wins on the spin as they welcome Biggar to Myreside. Home head coach Marcus Di Rollo has had a few injury worries to contend with this week with front-row men Dylan Rutherford and Tom Wright set to miss out. If they do not make it then it looks like new arrival Marcus Heather and young Max Johnson will start at prop and hooker respectively.

Biggar travel to Edinburgh eager to get their second win of the season. They should have former Edinburgh forward Bruce McNeil back from suspension to start.

Third-placed Hawick are at home to Hamilton this afternoon. The men from Laigh Bent head for the Borders off the back of a disappointing home loss to Stewart’s Melville.

Selkirk, in fourth, host Jed-Forest in a Borders derby at Philiphaugh with home prop Gordon Paterson making his first start of the campaign and Andrew Renwick back in the second-row.

Fifth plays seventh at Hughenden when Hillhead/Jordanhill – who are missing captain Stuart Ross – host Kelso. This one starts at 2:30pm with the rest of the matches at 3pm.

This article was posted on 6-Oct-2012, 06:24 by Hugh Barrow.