FOSROC Super6 Round 4: Preview

FOSROC Super6 Round 4: Preview

The 2021 FOSROC Super6 will enter its fourth-round tomorrow evening when Stirling County host Ayrshire Bulls under Friday night lights at Bridgehaugh. On Saturday Heriot’s Rugby host city rivals Watsonians Rugby and on Sunday action returns to The Greenyards when the Southern Knights host Boroughmuir Bears – live on FreeSports

SUNDAY 22 AUGUST: Southern Knights v Boroughmuir Bears 

Boroughmuir Bears make the trip to Melrose this afternoon for the final game in the fourth round the FOSROC Super6, which you can watch live on FreeSports or HERE on the Scottish Rugby website if you are outside of the UK and Ireland – commentary will be provided by Hugh Dan MacLennan and Chris Paterson with host Dougie Vipond.

The Southern Knights are welcoming spectators to The Greenyards for this afternoon’s game, tickets can be bought HERE.

Match officials:
Ref: David Sutherland
AR1: Michael Todd
AR2: Jonny Perriam
No4: Digby Thomas
Time: Graeme Eastland

Previous encounters:
Sunday 10 January 2020
Boroughmuir Bears 12-31 Southern Knights
Sunday 19 January 2020
Southern Knights 46-27 Boroughmuir Bears

After Watsonians defeat to Heriot’s yesterday a win this afternoon will put Southern Knights top of the FOSROC Super6 table. Southern Knights Head Coach Rob Chrystie said:

“This weekend’s live match on FreeSports against Boroughmuir is sure to be a cracker. Boroughmuir have got some extremely dangerous players in attack and look to play an expansive style. We have had another good week at training and the players are determined to put in a performance that our supporters can be proud of.

“Cammy Scott starts at stand-off after impressing off the bench over the last two matches and Patrick Anderson comes back into start on the left wing. Harry Bothwick and Allan Ferrie start on the backrow and vice-captain Grant Shiells comes in at loosehead prop.”

Southern Knights: 15. Joe Jenkins, 14. Billy Wara, 13. Nyle Godsmark, 12. Craig Jackson CAPTAIN, 11. Patrick Anderson , 10. Cameron Scott*, 9. Murdo McAndrew; 1. Grant Sheills, 2. Fraser Renwick, 3. Euan McLaren, 4. Angus Runciman, 5. Daniel Suddon, 6. Hary Borthwick, 7. Allan Ferrie, 8. Iain Moody.
Replacements: 16. Richard Ferguson, 17. Shaun Gunn, 18. Calum Crookshanks, 19. Dalton Redpath, 20. Iain Sim, 21. Cameron Jones, 22. Jason Baggott, 22. Keiran Clark

Southern Knights captain Craig Jackson in action last weekend 

A win this afternoon would lift Boroughmuir Bears off the bottom of the league table to one place above Ayrshire Bulls.

Bears were delt a blow to their squad earlier this week as it was confirmed that second row Ewan Stewart sustained a jaw injury in last weekend’s match against Watsonians. Stewart will now be replaced in the 32-man squad by youngster Duncan Munn from Catha Queen’s Park who left Kelvinside Academy in the summer.

Boroughmuir Bears Head Coach Graham Shiel said: “It has been a tough start to the season and whilst we have, in parts, played well and competed, we have afforded teams too much respect resulting in a head start on the score board which at this level of rugby is very tough to get back.

“We know that the journey down to Melrose is always tough, so the group will have to be accurate in all that they do and continue to work hard to progress and restrict the opportunities afforded for Southern Knights.

“Will Inglis comes into the starting line up to make his first appearance of the 2021 FOSROC Super6 season for the journey south to Melrose.

“Martin McGinley and Tom Drennan have recovered from injuries and will make their 2021 debuts off the bench.

“Behind the scrum, 18-year-old Duncan Munn makes his debut for Boroughmuir Bears coming straight into the squad to start at inside centre. A reshuffle in the backs due to injuries and unavailability sees Jordan Edmunds move to centre, Tom Brown to wing and Martin Cimprich start at full-back.”

Boroughmuir Bears: 15. Martin Cimprich, 14. Glen Faulds, 13. Jordan Edmunds, 12. Duncan Munn, 11. Tom Brown, 10. Tom Pittman, 9. Kaleem Barreto; 1. George Cave, 2. Craig McKenzie, 3. Dan Winning CO-CAPTAIN, 4. Jack Fisher, 5. Will Inglis, 6. Craig Keddie CO-CAPTAIN, 7. Scott McGinley, 8. Trystan Andrews.
Replacements: 16. Cameron MacMillan, 17. Ross Dunbar, 18.Martin McGinley, 19. Tom Drennan, 20. Mzwandile Mncube, 21. Kyle McGhie, 22. Murray Johnstone

Boroughmuir Bears scrum-half Kaleem Barreto passes the ball away last weekend. Credit: Graham Gaw

SATURDAY 21 AUGUST: Heriot’s Rugby v Watsonians Rugby 

Heriot’s Rugby host table-topers Watsonians in the second FOSROC Super6 game of the weekend.

Goldenacre is open to spectators attending, tickets can be bought HERE.

If you can’t make it to the game, highlights of this fixture will be available shortly after with commentary from Stuart McFarlane.

Match Officials:
Ref: Graeme Ormiston
AR1: Keith Allen
AR2: Bob Nevins
No4: Kevin McGhee
Time: Alan Forrest

Previous encounters:
Sunday 17 November 2019
Heriot’s Rugby 17-32 Watsonians Rugby
Friday 14 February 2020
Watsonians Rugby 24-21 Heriot’s Rugby

Heriot’s recorded their first win of the season on the road to Stirling last Sunday and will be looking to build on that winning feeling.

Head Coach Andrew Kelly said: “Watsonians are at the top of the table and have played well in their games. This is a great challenge for us to see how far we have come and what we have learnt from the last three weeks. We want to build on our win against Stirling.

“We have a few injuries this week, however we have great depth in our squad and are able to field a very strong 23.”

Heriot’s Rugby: 15. Ross Jones CAPTAIN, 14. Rory McMichael, 13. Robert Kay, 12. Stuart Edwards, 11. James Couper, 10. Bruce Houston, 9. Lloyd Wheeldon; 1. Andrew Nimmo, 2. Michael Liness, 3. Josh Scott, 4. Ronan Seydak, 5. Adam Sinclair, 6. Ruairidh Leishman, 7. Jack McClean, 8. Callum Marshall.
Replacements: 16. Chris Keen, 17. Duncan Hood, 18. Archie Bogle, 19. Lewis Govenlock, 20. Fraser Hastie, 21. Matt Russell, 22. Alex Ball, 23. Ben Evans

Stuart Edwards in action last weekend. Credit: Bryan Robertson

Watsonians are the only team in the league to remain unbeaten and they will look to keep it that way when they travel to Heriot’s later on this afternoon.

Head Coach Fergus Pringle said: “We’re looking forward to the challenge of going down to Goldenacre to take on Heriots. They have real quality players and a lot of experience across their squad.

“We have made the most of a slightly longer turnaround from our last game and worked hard this week. Our focus is still trying to put in a consistent 80minute performance which we will need to get the result on Saturday.

“Jamie Forbes is unavailable for selection after picking up a knock against the Bears last weekend. Ru Smith returns to get his first game time of the season after recovering from a pre-season injury.

“There are two changes and a positional switch in the backs with Lomond Macpherson returning to the starting line-up and Ru Smith starting on the wing with Harvey Elms moving to fullback.

“In the forwards, there are three changes with Stevie Longwell starting at tighthead and Harrison Courtney returns to the squad to start at loosehead. Campbell Wilson get his first start of the competition at openside flanker.”

Watsonians Rugby: 15. Harvey Elms, 14. Lomond Macpherson, 13. Lewis Berg, 12. Dominic Coetzer, 11. Ru Smith, 10. Marc Morrison, 9. Murray Scott; 1. Harrison Courtney, 2. Cal Davies CAPTAIN, 3. Steven Longwell, 4. Kwagga Van Niekerk, 5. Michael Badenhorst, 6. Luis Ball, 7. Campbell Wilson, 8. Sam Daly.

Replacements: 16. Ross Graham, 17. Thomas Jeffrey, 18. Matias Sonzogni Argiro, 19. Kieran Watt, 20. Karl Main, 21. Harry Fisher, 22. Reiss Cullen, 23. Scott King

Sam Daly on the charge last weekend. Credit: Graham Gaw

FRIDAY 20 AUGUST: Stirling County v Ayrshire Bulls 

With both sides marginally on the wrong side of the score line last weekend they will be looking to make the wrongs right.

Crowds are welcome to attend Bridghaugh for their first ever Friday night game in there in the FOSROC Super6. Ticket are available HERE.

For those who can’t make it to Bridgehaugh tomorrow night the you can watch it live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport Scotland channel with commentary from Paul Mitchell and former Stirling captain and Scotland International Kevin McKenzie.

Match officials:

Ref: Ian Kenny
AR1: Ruairidh Campbell
AR2: Alistair Watt
No4: Walter Gaffney
Time: John McLaughlin

Previous encounters:
Sunday 8 December 2019
Stirling County 0-8 Ayrshire Bulls
Saturday 14 December 2019
Ayrshire Bulls 30-8 Stirling County

Stirling County were unlucky not to come away with the win last week after leading by one point at half-time, but ultimately Heriot’s won by only one point.

Head Coach Ben Cairns said: “At some stage, we have to put everything together and get our first win of the season. Again, the effort was outstanding, we played some fantastic rugby but our accuracy in the final third let us down massively.

“There hasn’t been a lot of time to work on it in training but we have reviewed fully and know where we need to make changes. We keep saying we are not far away and being a total of six points off 3 wins from 3 would suggest that but we are running out of time to kick start this short season.

“Ayrshire Bulls will be disappointed not to have picked up more points by this stage, being pipped in rounds one and three by the high flying Watsonians and Knights. They’ve got a very good squad, a big physical pack and a very exciting backline. We know it’s going to be another massive shift required on Friday night if we are to start climbing the table.

“With a five-day turnaround, there’s an element of rotation and some enforced changes. Craig Jardine rotates in at inside centre with Grant Hughes moving to scrum-half.

“Fit-again George Breese starts at loosehead and Angus Fraser rotates in with Reyner Kennedy. Murphy Walker and Max Williamson have been recalled by Glasgow Warriors so JP Phelan starts at tighthead and James Pow, who was a last minute change on Sunday, comes back into the side. Dean Taylor-Menzies is fit again to captain the side in Reyner’s absence.”

Stirling County: 15. Tom Roche, 14. Steven Hamilton, 13. Archie Russell, 12. Craig Jardine, 11. Logan Trotter, 10. Andrew Goudie, 9. Grant Hughes; 1. George Bresse, 2. Angus Fraser, 3. JP Phelan, 4. James Pow, 5. Byron Bowes, 6. Callum Cruickshank, 7. Connor Gordon, 8. Dean Talyor-Menzies CAPTAIN
Replacements: 16. Reyner Kennedy, 17. Billy Dineen, 18. Lewis Skinner, 19. Bradley Luney, 20. Ali Mackie, 21. Euan Cunningham*, 22. Landon Hayes, 23. Craig Robertson
*FOSROC Scottish Rugby Academy Contracted Player

Archie Russell scores a try for Stirling County last weekend against Heriot’s. Credit: Bryan Robertson

In another close game Bulls lost by only two points on the road to Knights last Sunday. They will target this fixture a must win to stay within reach of Watsonians and Southern Knights who top the table.

Head Coach Pat MacArthur said: “Travelling to play Stirling away is always a real challenge. Like us they will have been disappointed with their last result, we will need to be at our best.

“Friday provides a great platform for us to raise our performance levels, we have managed to get some good work done in training and we will be looking to take this into the weekend and see a reaction from the Knights game.

“There are a number of changes this week. We welcome back Alex McGuire into the starting team. Calvin Henderson, Rory Jackson, Harry Warr, Matt Minogue and Arron Tait reverting from the bench to the starting line-up and Adam McGowan makes his first appearances in the match day squad as emergency replacement for Jordan Lenac.”

Ayrshire Bulls: 15. Matt Davidson, 14. Aaron Tait, 13. Tom Williams, 12. Tom Jordan, 11. Robbie Nairn, 10. Matt Minogue, 9. Harry Warr; 1. Ruairidh Sayce, 2. Rhodri Tanner, 3. Calvin Henderson, 4. Edward Bloodworth, 5. Tom Everard, 6. Ryan Sweeney, 7. Rory Jackson*, 8. Blair MacPherson CAPTAIN
Replacements: 16. Rhodri Tanner, 17. Craig Miller, 18. Michael Scott, 19. Ewan Hamilton-Bulger, 20. Jamie Drummond*, 21. Adam McGowan, 22. Christian Townsend*, 23. Elias Caven
*FOSROC Scottish Rugby Academy Contracted Player

Tom Williams runs in under the posts to score a try last weekend for Ayrshire Bulls. 

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