BT Premiership Preview: Glasgow Hawks look to reach new heights as Hawick visit
Glasgow Hawks play Hawick at Old Anniesland this Saturday at 3pm with hopes of continuing their winning run and strengthening their place in the top four.So far this season, Hawks have only been defeated by Melrose who, until Ayr narrowly snatched victory (11-7), were unbeaten in the league.With four bonus point wins from five matches, the Glasgow side look like they are on track to improve on last season’s final tally of nine wins from 18.Hawick travel to the city and will seek triumph after defeating Boroughmuir at home 36-26 last weekend – their first victory of the season.The Borders’ boys have not been alone in struggling to secure wins however, as Boroughmuir, Gala and Currie are all in the same boat with one win from five.When it comes to rankings, Hawks finished sixth out of the ten teams last season, and considering their ambitious start to the season, the squad look capable of pushing into the top ranks this year.Hawick finished just below Hawks in seventh place last year, also securing nine wins from 18 games.Finlay Gillies, Glasgow Hawks Head Coach, commented on his selection: “We would like to thank Glasgow Warriors for releasing Sean Lamont and Junior Bulumakau who will play in what looks to be a very exciting back three with Kerr Gossman completing the trio.”Sam Johnson and Matt Fagerson are called up for Pro team duty with Glasgow Warriors, and Brendan McGroarty and Jack Steele drop to the bench.Gillies said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming Nicki and his Hawick team to Old Anniesland this Saturday.Hawick, like ourselves, are an ambitious team and like to play an open brand of rugby with excellent off-loaders and support runners littered throughout their squad. This is a tough fixture and we can’t wait for the challenge.”Hawick Head Coach, Nikki Walker, moves Fraser Renwick to the bench while Blair Robertson will make his first appearance in the green jersey and Ali Weir returns to the squad after injury.Walker spoke about their victory last weekend: “After finally getting our first win last weekend, we have taken a lot of confidence and belief from the result that we can gain some momentum and begin to climb the table.Another good performance is our sole aim this week in what will be a very difficult task against a very strong Hawks squad at Old Anniesland where we have found it extremely difficult in the past.”The men in green are certainly heading in the right direction, said Walker, and will look to play an expansive game of rugby having scored eight tries in the last two matches.He argues that if his side tighten up their defence, then they will be a very hard team to beat.Elsewhere, Melrose host Stirling County as they look to redeem themselves after being knocked off the top spot.The new leaders, Ayr, travel to Meggetland to face Boroughmuir and will seek to continue their unbeaten reign despite being away from home.Gala and Watsonians meet at Netherdale as the visitors look to cement their standing in the top four, while Heriot’s travel to Currie in an Edinburgh derby, hoping to secure an away win so as not to fall further down the table.Glasgow Hawks v Hawick will be live-tweeted from @Scotlandteam with match build-up from 2pm.Clubs from across BT National Leagues 1, 2 and 3 will also continue their season on Saturday. For a full list of fixtures, visit scottishrugby.org. BT Premiership round six (Saturday 1 October)Glasgow Hawks v Hawick, Old Anniesland, 3pmGlasgow Hawks: Sean Lamont; Junior Bulumakau, Bobby Beattie, Davie Milne, Kerr Gossman; Josh Henderson, George Horne; Steven Findlay, Scott Rodgers, Gary Strain, Andrew Linton, Andrew Kirkland, Andy Redmayne, Grant Stewart, Tommy Spinks CAPTAIN. Replacements: Paul Cairncross, Brendan Cullinane, Fraser Hastie, Jack Steele, Brendan McGroarty. Hawick: Neil Renwick; Neil McColm, Gary Johnstone, Grant Huggan, Wesley Hamilton; Lee Armstrong, Bruce Campbell; Shaun Muir, Callum Mackintosh, Mathew Landels, Michael Robertson, Dylan Harlen, Ross Gibson, Stuart Graham, Bruce McNeil CAPTAIN. Replacements: Fraser Renwick, Terry Skeet, Blair Robertson, Kyle Brunton, Ali Weir.Melrose v Stirling County, Greenyards, 3pmMelrose: Austin Lockington; Ross McCann, Richard Taylor, Craig Jackson, Nyal Godsmark; Jason Baggott, Murdo McAndrew; Jamie Bhatti, Russell Anderson, Nick Beavon, James Head, Ruaridih Knott, Neil Irvine Hess, Grant Runciman CAPTAIN, Ian Moody. Replacements: Cammy Mckay, Ruari McLeod, Ali Grieve, Struan Hutchison, Gavin Wood. Stirling County: Jonny Hope CAPTAIN; Craig Pringle, Nick Grigg, Sam Johnson, Bruce Sorbie; Ross Jones, Nemia Kenatale; Mike MacDonald, Reyner Kennedy, Adam Nicol, Hamilton Burr, Adam Sinclair, Ruaridh Lieshman, Struan Robertson, Alex Taylor. Replacements: Matt Emmison, Shaun McDonald, Matt Donaldson, Jake Cresswell. Boroughmuir v Ayr, Meggetland, 3pmBoroughmuir: Dougie Steele; Grant McConnell, Ronan Kerr, Mark Hare, Jordan Edmunds; Chris Laidlaw, Sam Johnson; Ross Dunbar, James Bett, Dan Winning, Jamie Scott, Jamie Ure, Jamie Ritchie, Matt Walker, Craig Keddie CAPTAIN. Replacements: Stuart Clark, Dale Robertson, Aubrey Mcube, Andy Rose, Alex Cox. Ayr: Grant Anderson CAPTAIN; Cameron Taylor, Danny McCluskey, Stafford McDowall, Craig Gossman; Frazier Climo, David Armstrong; George Hunter, James Malcolm, Adam Prentice, Craig Stevenson, Scott Sutherland, Will Bordill, Gregor Henry, Blair Macpherson. Replacements: David Young, Steven Longwell, Robert McAlpine, Graham Hunter, Richard Dalgliesh. Gala v Watsonians , Netherdale, 3pmGala: Graham Speirs CAPTAIN; Alex Northam, Lewis Berg, Paul Hendry, Craig Robertson; Gregor Hunter, Conor Adams; Chris Keen, Matt Carryer, Dean Brooker, Rob Louw, Chris Weir, Gary Adams, Josh Irvine, Stevie Cairns. Replacements: Curtis Reynolds, Gary Robertson, Alan Emond, Craig Dods. Watsonians: Rory Steele; Mark Bertram, DJ Innes, Joe Helps, Max McFarland; Andrew Chalmers, Euan McKirdy; Martin Christie CAPTAIN, Sean Crombie, Shaun Ruwers, Fraser Morrison, Craig Borthwick, Viliami Fihaki, Diarmaid Dee, Euan Dods. Replacements: Darren Miller, Nathan Borel, Angus Duckett, Reiss Cullen, Keith Young.Currie v Heriots, Malleny Park, 3pmCurrie: Harvey Elms; Lee Jones, Cameron Hutchison, Robbie Nelson, Cameron Gray; Jamie Forbes, Richard Sneddon; John Cox, Fergus Scott, Graeme Carson, Hamish Bain, Stephen Ainslie, Rhys Davies, Thomas Gordon, Ross Weston CAPTAIN. Replacements: Paul Mundell, AP McWilliam, Gary Temple, James Bywater, Charlie Shiel. Heriots: John Semple; Harry Boisseau, Liam Steele, Rory Carmichael CAPTAIN, Josh Laird; Alex Hagart, Andrew Simmers; Murray McCallum, Michael Liness, Struan Cessford, Russell Nimmo, Clarke Smith, Struan Dewar, Jack McLean, Callum Marshall. Replacements: Stewart Mustard, Martin Bouab, Michael Maltman, Gavin Parker, Jordan Webster.
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