BT Premiership PREVIEW | Melrose and Ayr contest final silverware

Melrose and Ayr will go head-to-head in the BT Premiership final this Saturday (15 April) as the top two teams from Scotland’s premier club competition look to claim the league title at The Greenyards (kick-off 3pm). Melrose, who finished top of the BT Premiership table and four points ahead of Ayr, have already secured the Bill McLaren Shield in recent weeks and go into Saturday’s final high on confidence.The Borders side maintained their position at the top for the majority of the league season and overcame Currie 42-15 in the BT Premiership semi-final play-off match at The Greenyards to progress to the final. Melrose were last crowned BT Premiership champions in season 2013/14 and will clash again with Ayr on Saturday 22 April at BT Cup Finals Day when the two sides meet in the BT Cup final, a week on from the league final, at the national stadium.Ayr have also enjoyed a regular spot inside the top four this season and recorded an impressive 38-17 victory over Glasgow Hawks in their semi-final play-off clash at Millbrae to reach Saturday’s final.The Millbrae men last won the league in season 2012/13 and will be eager to put right the result of last year’s BT Premiership final, which saw them lose the title to capital side, Heriot’s, following a last-minute penalty try.  Ayr and Melrose have met twice in the league this season with both clubs winning their respective home ties, Ayr securing the first scalp 11-7 in September and Melrose responding with a 27-10 victory in December.Melrose captain, Bruce Colvine, said: “We have developed a winning mentality at the club throughout the league rounds and the boys have worked extremely hard to reach the league final.There is still all to play for on Saturday with the chance to win silverware keeping us motivated, both Melrose and Ayr give it their all and we’ve had some exciting encounters in the past with Saturday being no different.”Ayr prop, Lewis Anderson, said: “We are ready to go for Saturday having come back from defeat in last year’s final to put ourselves back in the position to lift silverware again.We have improved as the season has progressed and are confident that we can put in a winning performance against a very strong Melrose side.Melrose earned home advantage for the scheduled final against Ayr as the highest placed winner of the semi-finals. BT National League Division 1 runners-up, Edinburgh Academical, will take on Hawick at Lasswade RFC on Saturday 29 April, after the Borders side finished second bottom of the BT Premiership table, to decided this season’s promotion and relegation.Bottom of the table finishers, Gala, were automatically relegated to BT National League Division 1, with promoted Marr taking their place in the BT Premiership.BT Premiership Final: Melrose v Ayr, Saturday 15 April, The Greenyards (kick-off 3pm)BT Premiership-BT National League Division 1 play-off: Edinburgh Academicals v Hawick, Hawthornden (kick-off 3pm)