BT Premiership preview: Watsonians seek to continue winning streak in Edinburgh derby

BT Premiership preview: Watsonians seek to continue winning streak in Edinburgh derby

Edinburgh based teams Watsonians and Boroughmuir will meet this Saturday at Myreside as the host’s strive to secure a third consecutive win to cement their standing in the BT Premiership league top spots early on in the season. Promoted to the BT Premiership for the upcoming season following their victory as BT National League Division 1 winners for 2015/16, Watsonians’ hard work has flowed into this season’s campaign having won both of their games so far. Watsonians’ league opener against Heriot’s saw them derail the defending BT Premiership champion’s visions of remaining on top, beating them 25-18, and proved it was not a fluke as the following week Watsonians overcame Hawick away from home 24-9.Although they may be winning, Watsonian’s will be keen to get more points on the scoreboard in order to keep up with current table-toppers Melrose and Ayr who have secured bonus point victories with significant points differences between them and their opponents.Whilst it is evident that the recently promoted squad are settling in to their new competitive environment with ease, Boroughmuir could halt their momentum as they look to build on their 35-28 win against Stirling Country last week, after failing to defeat Melrose in their league opener, losing 51-24.Watsonian’s head coach, Marcus Di Rollo, says his boys are ready for the challenge: “Boroughmuir had a good win last week and we are in good form so it has all the makings of a really entertaining Edinburgh derby.”Rollo has made some changes to the squad from the previous match against Hawick, and is excited for Tongan international Viliami Fihaki, of Edinburgh Rugby, to start at 6.Also in the pack, captain Martin Christie returns to start at prop with Fraser Morrison, formerly of Stewart’s Melville, who will debut at second-row.Following an injury last weekend, Scott McKean will be replaced by Rory Steele on the wing.Boroughmuir have also had to make necessary squad changes as Ronan Kerr comes in at 13 for injured Greg Cannie.Head coach Peter Wright, said: “After a hard fought victory against Stirling last week, we are looking to continue the good work against our local rivals who have started off the season with two confident wins.”No games are easy in this league and we are expecting another bruiser on Saturday.”Elsewhere, Currie travel to The Greenyards to face league leaders Melrose in a tough match where Currie will strive for their first win, whilst Melrose seek to push out further in front of Ayr and Watsonians who are trailing them on the scoreboard.Heriot’s hope their home advantage will prove fruitful on Saturday after failing to overpower Ayr last Saturday, losing 18-23, as they host Hawick who have also yet to secure a win this season.Gala visit Millbrae as they take on unbeaten title contenders Ayr as they strive for another away win to push them into the top three after defeating Currie 23-28 last weekend.Following what head coach David Adamson called a “disappointing loss” to Boroughmuir, Stirling County host Glasgow Hawks; both teams looking to secure a win as they are both neck and neck with 5 points so far this season.Tune in to Scottish Rugby TV for an as-live broadcast of Melrose v Currie available post-match.Watsonians v Boroughmuir 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 three (Saturday 10 September)Watsonians v Boroughmuir, Myreside, 3pm  Watsonians: Andrew Chalmers; Rory Steele, Scott McLeod, DJ Innes, Keith Young; Ewan Scott, Reiss Cullen; Martin Christie CAPTAIN, Sean Crombie, Shaun Ruwers, Fraser Morrison, Craig Borthwick, Viliami Fihaki, Angus Duckett, Euan Dods. Replacements: Darren Miller, Nathan Borel, Kenny Beattie, Sean Kennedy, Mark Bertram.  Boroughmuir: Dougie Steele; Grant McConnell, Ronan Kerr, Mark Hare, Jordan Edmunds; Chris Laidlaw, Sam Johnson; Dale Robertson, Tristan King, Dan Winning, Jamie Ure, Jamie Scott, Craig Keddie, Douglas Hearn, Matthew Tweddle. Replacements: James Bett, Ross Dunbar, Aubrey Mcube, Rab Cairns.  Ayr v Gala, Millbrae, 3pmAyr: Grant Anderson; Jamie Bova, Archie Russell, Danny McCluskey, Craig Gossman; Frazier Climo, Harry Warr; George Hunter, James Malcolm, Steven Longwell, Craig Stevenson, Robert McAlpine, Will Bordill, Gregor Henry, Blair Macpherson. Replacements: David Young, D’arcy Rae, Lee Scott, Cameron Taylor, Ross Curle.Gala: Graham Speirs CAPTAIN; Ross Combe, Chris Dean, Paul Hendry, Craig Robertson; Gregor Hunter, George Lott; Matt Carryer, Dean Brooker, Chris Keen, Opeta Palepoi, Rob Louw, Alan Emond, Josh Irvine, Stevie Cairns. Replacements: Gary Robertson, Curtis Reynolds, Gary Adams, Gregor Mein, Craig Dods.  Melrose v Currie, The Greenyards, 3pmMelrose: Fraser Thomson; Ross McCann, George Taylor, Richard Taylor, Austin Lockington; Jason Baggott, Murdo McAndrew; Jamie Bhatti, Russell Anderson, Nick Beavon, Ruaridh Knott, Lewis Carmichael, Neil Irvine Hess, Grant Runciman CAPTAIN, Ian Moody. Replacements: Neil Cochrane, Dan Elkington, Ally Grieve, Bruce Colvine, Gavin Wood.Currie: Harvey Elms; Mathew Hooks, Richie Vernon, Robbie Nelson, Cameron Gray; Graeme Clow, Charlie Shiel; AP McWilliam, Fergus Scott, Jarrod Firth, Hamish Bain, Stephen Ainslie, Rhys Davies, Thomas Gordon, Ross Weston CAPTAIN. Replacements: Graeme Carson, John Cox, Gary Temple, Richard Sneddon, Matt McPhillips.Heriot’s v Hawick, Goldenacre, 3pmHeriot’s: Gavin Parker; Jordan Webster, John Semple, Rory Carmichael CAPTAIN, Josh Laird; Alex Hagart, Andrew Simmers; Martin Bouab, George Turner, Struan Cessford, Callum Marshall, Clarke Smith, Struan Dewar, Jack McLean, Cornell Du Preez. Replacements: Michael Liness, Murray McCallum, Euan Jackson, Liam Steele, Andy McLean.  Hawick: Neil Renwick; Darcy Graham, John Coutts, Gary Johnstone, Wesley Hamilton; Lee Armstrong, Bruce Campbell; Shaun Muir, Fraser Renwick, Matt Landels, Dylan Harlen, Ryan Hogg, Bruce McNeil CAPTAIN, Andrew Horne, Keith Davies. Replacements: Callum MacKintosh, Jack Cosgrove, Ross Gibson, Greg Cottrel, Grant Huggan. Stirling County v Glasgow Hawks, Bridgehaugh, 3pmStirling County: Jonny Hope; Craig Pringle, Jake Cresswell, Fraser Lyle, Rory Hughes; Ross Jones, Matt Donaldson; Mike MacDonald, Reyner Kennedy, Adam Nicol, Callum Hunter-Hill CAPTAIN, Adam Sinclair, Ruairidh Lieshman, Shaun McDonald, Alex Taylor. Replacements: Matt Emmison, Colin Hutton, Hamilton Burr, Struan Robertson, Ryan Elliston.Glasgow Hawks: Peter Murchie; Junior Bulumakau, Robert Beattie, Paddy Kelly, Kerr Gossman; Josh Henderson, Grayson Hart; Steven Findlay, Grant Stewart, Gary Strain, Kiran McDonald, Greg Peterson, Andy Hill, Andy Kirkland, Tommy Spinks CAPTAIN. Replacements: Scott Rodgers, Paul Cairncross, Hagen Schulte, George Horne, Davy Milne.  

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