BT Premiership preview: Ayr looking to settle the score

BT Premiership preview: Ayr looking to settle the score

Round two of Scotland’s premier club competition sees a repeat of last season’s BT Premiership final when Ayr make the trip to Goldenacre to face reigning champions Heriot’s on Saturday. In a final, which showcased the best two club sides in Scotland, Ayr looked to have sneaked the title before Heriot’s were awarded a penalty try in the dying minutes of the game.The 2015/16 table-toppers have re-grouped and are full of confidence after recording an impressive 53-10 victory over Currie in last weekend’s opening round at Millbrae.Captain Pete McCallum will be key for Ayr, having already put in a performance for Glasgow Warriors during their warm-up game against Canada ‘A’ at Bridgehaugh on Tuesday.Ayr Head Coach, Calum Forrester, said: “We face a tough trip to Goldenacre this weekend to face a Heriot’s side who will be hurting after a couple of recent losses.Last season, these matches were close encounters with only a few points separating the sides on each occasion and we expect the same again on Saturday.”The Millbrae men welcome a number of experienced players back into the squad, Grant Anderson returns at full-back, Craig Gossman switches to the wing and Blair Macpherson accompanies Will Bordill in the back-row.Heriot’s are looking to improve on last weekend’s performance against BT Premiership newcomers Watsonians, after they went down 25-18 at Myreside.Phil Smith, Heriot’s Head Coach, said: “Despite defeat last week, the squad have recognised a couple of areas of improvement, which has seen a positive week of training for all.””Calum has another strong group who have started well, while we are still looking for a more rounded start to the season.The BT Premiership final at Millbrae last season was a high quality fixture that saw all aspects of the club game advertised. The quality of defence and different attacking styles will be on show once again on Saturday, it promises to be a cracker.”Elsewhere, Melrose travel to Old Anniesland to face a Glasgow Hawks side who are in scintillating form following a 43-27 win over hosts Gala.With several players involved in Tuesday night’s Warriors clash with Canada ‘A’, Hawks have key play-makers in both the pack and the back-line who can cause any side trouble.Melrose also made the perfect start to their league campaign with a 51-24 demolition of Boroughmuir at The Greenyards.Rob Chrystie’s squad look settled with only one change from last week’s starting line-up, Richard Taylor coming in for the injured Craig Jackson.Stirling County are another side who made an impressive start to the season, dominating Hawick 28-19 at home.They travel to Meggetland with an unchanged squad to go head-to-head with Peter Wright’s Boroughmuir, who will be looking to get their season on track with a first league victory.Watsonians travel to Hawick for their second game after overcoming local rivals Heriot’s in fine fashion. A couple of changes to the squad sees some new faces introduced for Watsonians whereas Hawick will utilise their home advantage for the first time this season to improve on last weekend.Finally, Currie and Gala clash at Malleny Park with both sides looking to record wins after losing out heavily to Ayr and Hawks respectively in round one.Ben Cairns’ men will take some comfort in the knowledge that last season, they were serious contenders.Gala will also source strength from their second-half performance against Hawks, which saw them secure a try bonus point.Tune in to Scottish Rugby TV for an as-live broadcast of Boroughmuir v Stirling County available post-match. Heriot’s v Ayr will be live-tweeted from @Scotlandteam with match build-up from 2pm. Clubs from across BT National Leagues 1, 2 and 3 also get their league season underway on Saturday. For a full list of fixtures, visit scottishrugby.org  BT Premiership round two (Saturday 3 September)Heriot’s v Ayr, Goldenacre, 3pmHeriot’s: Gavin Parker; Jordan Webster, Josh Laird, John Semple, Andy McLean; Alex Hagart, Andrew Simmers; Murray McCallum, Michael Liness, Struan Cessford, Callum Marshall, Clarke Smith, George Turner, Jack McLean, Struan Dewar. Replacements: Ruaridh Mitchell, Martin Bouab, Cornell Du Preez, Rory Carmichael CAPTAIN, Harry Boisseau.Ayr: Grant Anderson; Jamie Bova, Archie Russell, Ross Curle, Craig Gossman; Frazier Climo, David Armstrong, George Hunter, David Young, Steven Longwell, Craig Stevenson, Robert McAlpine, Blair Macpherson, Will Bordill, Pete McCallum CAPTAIN. Replacements: Lewis Anderson, Adam Prentice, Lee Scott, Cameron Taylor, Danny McCluskey.Glasgow Hawks v Melrose, Old Anniesland, 3pmGlasgow Hawks: Jack Steele; Robert Beattie, Patrick Kelly, David Milne, Erland Oag; Josh Henderson, George Horne, Steven Findlay, Grant Stewart, Gary Strain, Kiran McDonald, Andrew Kirkland, Andy Hill, Matt Fagerson, Tommy Spinks CAPTAIN. Replacements: Scott Rodgers, Brendan Cullinane, Sam Thomson, Sean Yacoubian, Hagan Schulte.Melrose: Fraser Thomson; Ross McCann, George Taylor, Richard Taylor, Austin Lockington; Jason Baggot, Murdo McAndrew; Jamie Bhatti, Russell Anderson, Nick Beavon, James Head, Lewis Carmichael, Neil Irvine-Hess, Grant Runciman CAPTAIN, Iain Moody. Replacements: Cammy McKay, Dan Elkington, Ruaridh Knott, Bruce Colvine, Gavin Wood.Boroughmuir v Stirling County, Meggetland, 3pmBoroughmuir: Dougie Steele; Grant McConnell, Greg Cannie, Mark Hare, Jordan Edmunds; Chris Laidlaw, Sam Johnson; Dale Robertson, Tristan King, Daniel Winning, Jamie Ure, Jamie Scott, Craig Keddie, Douglas Hearn, Matthew Tweddle. Replacements: James Bett, Thomas Gracie, Ross Dunbar, Ali McLaurin, Mike Allen. Stirling County: Bruce Sorbie; Matt Lamb, Jake Cresswell, Ryan Elliston, Craig Pringle; Jonny Hope, Alex Black, Mike MacDonald, Reyner Kennedy, Adam Nicol, Callum Hunter-Hill CAPTAIN, Adam Sinclair, Ruairidh Lieshman, Shaun McDonald, Alex Taylor. Replacements: Matt Emmison, Mark Hunter, Hamilton Burr, Colin Turnbull, Ross Jones.Hawick v Watsonians, Mansfield Park, 3pmHawick: D’arcy Graham; Neil McColim, Wesley Hamilton, Kyle Brunton, Sam Bandeen; Ali Weir, Bruce Campbell, Shaun Muir, Fraser Renwick, Callum MacKintosh, Michael Robertson, Dylan Harlen, Bruce McNeil, Andrew Horne, Keith Davis. Replacements: Matt Landels, Kevin Bryce, Ross Gibson, Stuart Graham, Lee Armstrong.Watsonians: Andrew Chalmers; Scott McKean, Scott McLeod, DJ Innes, Keith Young; Ewan Scott, Reiss Cullen; Nathan Borel, Sean Crombie, Shaun Ruwers, Diarmaid Dee, Craig Borthwick, Euan Dodds, Angus Duckett, Rory Drummond CAPTAIN. Replacements: Darren Miller, Martin Christie, Viliami Fihaki, Sean Kennedy, Mark Bertram. Currie v Gala, Malleny Park, 3pmCurrie: Harvey Elms; Matthew Hooks, Matt McPhilips, Robbie Nelson, Cameron Gray; Jamie Forbes, Richard Snedden; John Cox, Fergus Scott, Jarred Firth, Hamish Bain, Stephen Ainslie, Rhys Davies, Thomas Gordon, Ross Weston CAPTAIN. Replacements: Graeme Carson, Alex Allan, Gary Temple, Charlie Shiel, Graeme Clow.Gala: Graham Spiers CAPTAIN, Ross Combe, Paul Hendry, Rex Jeffrey, Craig Robertson; Gregor Hunter, George Lott, Alan Dell, Matt Carryer, Gary Robertson, Opeta Palepoi, Chris Weir, Rob Louw, Josh Irvine, Stevie Cairns. Replacements: Dean Brooker, Chris Keen, Alan Emond, Gregor Mein, Simon Fairburn. 

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