BT Premiership Preview: Watsonians hope to walk on Ayr

BT Premiership Preview: Watsonians hope to walk on Ayr

This Saturday at Myreside, Watsonians host league leaders Ayr who seek to continue their momentum, while the Edinburgh-based side hope to seal victory on home turf (kick off 3pm).It’s still tight at the top in the BT Premiership, and Ayr’s 39-13 triumph over Glasgow Hawks last weekend highlights the array of talent populating the league’s leading spots.Despite this, Watsonians sit in fifth place behind Heriot’s with only two points separating them, so Marcus Di Rollo’s men will seek to grab all the points they can get to make the top four and stay there, to reach the title play-offs.   Ayr, however, are the last team in the league to have only lost one match from eight and will look to build on their record to strengthen their position in the table – especially as they only lead by two points (33) while Melrose and Hawks trail on 31 and 30 points respectively.Watsonians are new to the BT Premiership this season, meaning this fixture will be the first played between the two.Watsonians have a firm hold on a central spot in the league having won four from eight matches but they have struggled to conquer Hawks or Melrose in their recent encounters, so know how tough this match against Ayr will be.Di Rollo welcomes Calum Eastwood to front row, his first start, and hopes operators Neil Cochrane and Viliami Fihaki, released from Edinburgh Rugby, can add to his side’s game.Di Rollo said: “We were bitterly disappointed to lose in the last few minutes at Stirling County last week.We have learned quickly in this division that you cannot switch off for a second. Ayr are a good side and we are looking forward to welcoming Calum Forrester and his players to Myreside.”Forrester has made some necessary changes due to injury; with Robbie Smith earning a start at hooker and new recruit Ruaridh McKenzie joining the back-row for Will Bordill.In the backs, Ross Curle misses out through injury so Danny McCluskey slots back in at 10.Forrester said: “Last week the pack put in a really dominant performance and we will be looking for them to back it up again this week in what will be a tough trip to Myreside.Watsonians have suffered a few narrow losses in recent weeks but are not far away from re-capturing their early season form, so we look forward to the challenge that lies ahead this weekend.”Elsewhere in the capital, Boroughmuir welcome Borders’ boys Gala to Meggetland and hope to recover from their 36-10 away defeat to Currie last weekend.Gala on the other hand seek to work on Saturday’s much needed victory over Hawick (22-21), as Head Coach Chris Dalgleish noted his men’s need to improve in many areas as they move onto this weekend’s match. Heriot’s look to cling on to their top-four spot as they take on Stirling County at home, and Head Coach Phil Smith hopes the addition of the Edinburgh Rugby players will boost their chances of another win.Stirling County Head Coach David Adamson believes last week’s 21-19 win over Watsonians will be a catalyst for the remainder of his squad’s season, and looks forward to the high quality of rugby that is likely to ensue due to the amount of pro players being released for both teams. Following their loss at Goldenacre last weekend, Melrose take on Hawick in a Border derby and Head Coach Robert Chrystie said his men look to rectify the mistakes from last week and return to winning ways.Hawick hope the home advantage will give them that extra edge and Head Coach Nikki Walker said his men will have to be at the top of their game to get anything out of this difficult match against Melrose.  Hawks lost to Ayr last weekend and in the process relinquished their number one position, and host Currie at Old Anniesland with the goal of resurrecting their previous success.Head Coach Finlay Gillies said selection was difficult this week after losing captain Tommy Spinks to injury, and thought Hawks would also lose co-captain Brendan McGroarty to suspension after seeing a red card against Ayr, but the appeal process has seen the red card rescinded from the centre’s record.Currie aim to take their recent found form away to Hawks and go to Glasgow with some confidence but know the match will be a challenge.BT Premiership round nine (Saturday 22 October)Watsonians v Ayr, Myreside, 3pmWatsonians: Keith Young; Mark Bertram, DJ Innes, Tom Hart, Max McFarland; Andrew Chalmers, Reiss Cullen; Martin Christie CAPTAIN, Sean Crombie, Calum Eastwood, Matt Poole, Craig Borthwick, Diarmaid Dee, Angus Duckett, Euan Dods. Replacements: Neil Cochrane/Darren Miller, Dave Keenan, Viliami Fihaki, Euan McKirdy, Ali Harris.Ayr: Grant Anderson CAPTAIN; Richard Dalgleish, Archie Russell, Stafford McDowall, Craig Gossman; Danny McCluskey, David Armstrong; Djustice Sears-Duru, Robbie Smith, Steven Longwell, Robert McAlpine, Scott Sutherland, George Hunter, Ruaridh Mackenzie, Blair Macpherson. Replacements: David Young, Craig Stevenson, Pete McCallum, Paddy Dewhirst, Jamie Bova. Boroughmuir v Gala, Meggetland, 3pmBoroughmuir: Dougie Steele; Jordan Edmunds, Alex Cox, Mark Hare, Grant McConnell; Chris Laidlaw, Nathan Fowles; Dale Robertson, Stuart Clark, Dan Winning, Matt Tweddle, Jamie Ure, Jamie Ritchie, Matt Walker, Craig Keddie. Replacements: Tristan King/Ali McLaurin, Tom Gracie, Rory Woodland, Sam Johnson, Greg Cannie.Gala: Graham Speirs CAPTAIN; Rory Scholes, Sasa Tofilau, Paul Hendry, Alex Northam; Gregor Hunter, Connor Adams; Chris Keen, Matt Carryer, Dean Brooker, Cammy Pate, Chris Weir, Rob Louw, Stevie Cairns, Harry Borthwick. Replacements: Curtis Reynolds, Opeta Palepoi, Alan Emond, Lewis Berg, Craig Robertson.Heriots v Stirling County, Goldenacre, 3pmHeriots: Gavin Parker; Charlie Simpson, Solomoni Junior Rasolea, John Semple CAPTAIN, Harry Boisseau; Alex Hagart, Andrew Simmers; Martin Bouab, George Turner, Murray McCallum, Clarke Smith, Callum Marshall, Michael Maltman, Jack McLean, Cornell Du Preez. Replacements: Michael Liness, Struan Cessford, Russell Nimmo, Alex Ball, John Rae.Stirling County: Jonny Hope; Matt Lamb, Nick Grigg, Fraser Lyle, Craig Pringle; Ross Jones, Nemia Kenatale; Mike MacDonald, Reyner Kennedy, Adam Nicol, Hamilton Burr, Callum Hunter-Hill CAPTAIN, Ruairidh Leishman, Alex Taylor, Harry Henderson. Replacements: Matt Emmison, Colin Hutton, Shaun MacDonald, Colin Turnbull, Jake Creswell.Hawick v Melrose, Mansfield Park, 3pmHawick: Ali Weir; Neil McColm, Gary Johnstone, Kyle Brunton, Wesley Hamilton; Lee Armstrong, Bruce Campbell; Jack Cosgrove, Fraser Renwick, Callum Mackintosh, Michael Robertson, Bruce McNeil CAPTAIN, Ross Gibson, Stuart Graham, Keith Davis. Replacements: Matt Landels, Blair Robertson, Dylan Harlen, Grant Huggan, Neil Renwick.Melrose: Craig Jackson; Ross McCann, George Taylor, Richard Taylor, Austin Lockington; Jason Baggott, Murdo McAndrew; Dan Elkington, Richard Ferguson, Ruairi McLeod, James Head, Lewis Carmichael, Ali Grieve, Neil Irvine Hess, Grant Runciman CAPTAIN. Replacements: Russell Anderson, Jamie Bhatti, Ruaridh Knott, David Colvine, Nyal Godsmark.    Glasgow Hawks v Currie, Old Anniesland, 3pmGlasgow Hawks: Erland Oag; Junior Bulumakau, Bobby Beattie, Brendan McGroarty, Kerr Gossman; Jack Steele, George Horne; Steven Findlay, Paul Cairncross, Brendan Cullinanen, Andy Linton, Andrew Kirkland, Andy Redmayne, Grant Stewart, Matt Fagerson. Replacements: Scott Rodgers, Craig Brodie, Sam Thompson, Paddy Boyer, David Milne. Currie: Harvey Elms; Ben Robbins, Robbie Nelson, Cameron Hutchison, Cameron Gray; Jamie Forbes, Richard Sneddon; John Cox, Fergus Scott, Graeme Carson, Hamish Bain, Stephen Ainslie, Luke Crosbie, Scott McGinley, Ross Weston CAPTAIN. Replacements: AP McWilliam, Reece Patterson, Thomas Gordon, Matt McPhillips, Charlie Shiel.

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