With just five points separating the top three in the RBS National League as we enter 2013, it is shaping up to be 
an exciting run-in starting this afternoon.


Leaders Watsonians, who have lost their last three matches in all competitions, will be looking to get back to winning ways against Hillhead/Jordanhill at Myreside. The Edinburgh side are boosted by the return of top try-scorer Rory Steele following a foot injury while he is joined in the backline by Tom Hart, who has returned from spending the festive period down south.

Back-row Chris Scott also starts while Hillhead/Jordanhill travel to Myreside in fifth place having lost their last match 13-6 away to Selkirk two weeks ago. Last week’s RBS West Regional Cup match with GHA was postponed.

Watsonians head coach Marcus Di Rollo said: “It is back to league business and a crucial few months for us. We know Hillhead/Jordanhill are a decent side and will need to play well to beat them.”

Hawick are now in second place having defeated Watsonians two weeks ago and are unbeaten in eight league matches stretching back to mid-September. Today they travel to Hartreemill to take on a Biggar side who, although bottom of the table, are much improved in recent weeks and can be expected to put up a better test than when they lost 71-6 to the same opponents earlier in the campaign.

John Coutts once again starts at full-back for Hawick after scoring a hat-trick of tries in that win over ’Sonians.

Glasgow Hawks are third, but still have a game in hand, and this afternoon they welcome Selkirk to Old Anniesland. They have been training hard under the watchful eye of co-coach Jimmy Sinclair over the festive period while they beat Whitecraigs 31-0 in the RBS West Regional Cup eight days ago.

Their backline in particular looks strong, with the back three of Jono Wright, Tom Steven and Mike Adamson dangerous with ball in hand.

Selkirk are in fourth and last week edged out Hawick YM in the RBS Border Regional Cup.

In the two other fixtures, Hamilton host Jed-Forest and Stewart’s Melville travel to Kelso. The latter match sees seventh play sixth, with both aiming to edge further away from the 
bottom.

William Massey and Ewan Ford are unavailable for Kelso at Poynder Park due to illness and injury respectively.

This article was posted on 5-Jan-2013, 07:45 by Hugh Barrow.