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Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership feature match: Ayr v Glasgow Hawks

22 Aug 2025

A west coast derby awaits Glasgow Hawks in round one of the new Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership season as they travel to champions, Ayr.

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 01: Melrose's Elliot Ruthven, Hawick's Fraser Renwick, Heriots' Ruaridh Leishman, Currie's Chris Anderson, Glasgow Hawk's Paul Cairncross, Ayr's Blair MAcpherson, GHA's Dario Ewing, Watsonian's Chris Bell, Kelso's Dwain Patterson and Selkirk's Corey Tait (L-R) during an Arnold Clark Men's Premiership Shoot at the Glasgow Hutchinsons' Aloysians RFC Clubrooms, on August 01, 2025, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ross MacDonald / SNS Group)

Hawks survived relegation by seven points last season, salvaged mainly by outstanding performances in their final flurry of matches.

Conversely, their opponents this weekend lost only once in the season – an away trip to Currie – and dominated the grand final against Watsonians.

It’s all to play for this weekend though – a fresh start awaits. Both sides have seen changes on and off the field in the pre-season, so tomorrow afternoon’s match will be an early tester.

Four things to watch out for this weekend:

GHA play their first Premiership match after promotion from National League 1 at the end of the previous season. They are away to Premiership mainstays Hawick.
2023/24 champions Currie host last season’s surprise package Selkirk. The teams finished side by side in fourth and fifth respectively in the previous campaign.
Many have tipped Melrose to do well this campaign, and the Borders side head to Edinburgh to start the season with a match against semi-finalists Heriot’s at Goldenacre.
Finalists Watsonians host Kelso – the side finishing ninth in the previous campaign. The home side will have the grand final in their mind and be out to redeem themselves as quickly as possible.