BT Premiership Preview: Bridgehaugh ready for Ayr

Stirling County welcome the return of the BT Premiership to Bridgehaugh this Saturday as they face Ayr after last week’s match against Melrose was postponed due to a frozen pitch (kick-off 3pm). With a game in hand, Stirling will be determined to win at home to move up to sixth while Ayr who are level with Melrose on 59 points know they need a win to challenge for first place since Melrose also have a game in hand.Ayr produced a 42-19 victory against Boroughmuir at Millbrae last weekend and will aim for another bonus point win as every point counts at the top of the table.However, Stirling will be confident going into this match after defeating Gala 22-29 away from home in their last fixture at the end of 2016.For such a challenging fixture, Stirling Head Coach David Adamson has put together a settled squad and welcomes hooker Corey Flynn who is released from Glasgow Warriors and replaces Reyner Kennedy who is injured.Adamson said: “Looking to Saturday’s game, we know that we face a really tough challenge against Ayr who will be pushing for a top spot in the league for when the play-offs come.However, we are confident with the side we have selected and that we can get the much needed win to help cement our place in the league.”Ayr’s Head Coach Calum Forrester has also forged a fairly settled squad but notes a couple of changes to their back line as Ross Curle and David Young are unavailable and Danny McCluskey moves into centre and Jamie Bova starts on the wing.Forrester said: “Stirling will be raring to go having not played in a number of weeks and have a strong squad out this weekend.We started the game well last week and will be looking to build on that performance on Saturday.”In the Borders, Melrose host Watsonians on Saturday with hopes of winning to take full advantage of their game in hand, but Melrose Head Coach Rob Chrystie acknowledges that their performance against Gala highlights the threat they pose having hit a bit of form.Watsonians will be eager to follow up their 40-3 victory over Gala with another win this weekend but know a trip to The Greenyards is never easy, with Head Coach Marcus Di Rollo stating his men will have to be at the top of their game.Glasgow Hawks will strive to return to winning ways this Saturday as they welcome Boroughmuir to Old Anniesland having lost 24-17 away to Hawick last weekend.Playing away from home for a second consecutive week, the ‘Muir know they must not let their opponents run away with the score if they are to get anything out of the upcoming match.Heriot’s, who are now fourth after defeating Currie 25-17 at home last week, travel to Netherdale determined to defend their recently attained top four position.Gala sit in tenth place but Head Coach Chris Dalgleish says his squad are determined to put pride back into the jersey and deliver a performance that much more reflects their abilities.Borders’ boys Hawick travel north to the capital as they take on Currie who will be keen to rectify their mistakes against Heriot’s which saw them lose their top four spot last week.Hawick know Currie will work hard to try and overtake Heriot’s, but having defeated Hawks at home last weekend, Nikki Walker’s men will be ready to battle it out at Malleny Park. BT Premiership Round 16 – Saturday 21 January 2017Stirling County v Ayr, Bridgehaugh, 3pmStirling: Jonny Hope CAPTAIN; Shaun MacDonald, Craig Pringle, Alex Black, Logan Trotter; Ross Jones, Matt Donaldson; Fergus Bradbury, Corey Flynn, Adam Nicol, Hamilton Burr, Adam Sinclair, Alex Taylor, Matt Emmison, Ruairidh Leishman. Replacements: Dougie Westwood, Mark Hunter, Andrew Grant-Suttie, Colin Turnbull, Logan Bonar. Ayr: Grant Anderson; Jamie Bova, Archie Russell, Danny McCluskey, Craig Gossman; Frazier Climo, David Armstrong; George Hunter, Lewis Anderson, Steven Longwell, Rob McAlpine, Scott Sutherland, Blair Macpherson, Will Bordill, Pete McCallum CAPTAIN. Replacements: Robbie Smith, Adam Prentice, Craig Stevenson, Richard Dalgleish, Stafford McDowall.  Melrose v Watsonians, The Greenyards, 2pmMelrose: Fraser Thomson; Ross McCann, Austin Lockington, George Taylor, Sam Pecqueur; Craig Jackson, Murdo Mcandrew; Jamie Bhatti, Russell Anderson, Nick Beavon, James Head, Anton Bresler, Ruaridh Knott, Grant Runciman CAPTAIN, Iain Moody. Replacements: Richard Ferguson, Ruairi McLeod, Peter Eccles, Struan Hutchison, Gavin Wood.Watsonians: Andrew Chalmers; Keith Young, Scott McLeod, DJ Innes, Scott McKean; Ewan Scott, Reiss Cullen; Nathan Borel, Sean Crombie, Shaun Rowers, Fraser Morrison, Craig Borthwick, Villiami Fihaki, Angus Duckett, Rory Drummond CAPTAIN. Replacements: Darren Miller, Martin Christie, Charlie McLean, Euan McKirdy, Rory Steele.Glasgow Hawks v Boroughmuir, Old Anniesland, 3pmGlasgow Hawks: Josh Henderson; Erland Oag, Robert Beattie, Brendan McGroarty, Kerr Gossman; Hagen Schulte, Paddy Boyer; Steven Findlay, Cammy Fenton, Gary Strain, Scott Cummings, Andrew Kirkland, Matt Smith, Matt Fagerson, Tommy Spinks CAPTAIN. Replacements: Scott Rodgers, Lyall Archer, Andrew Linton, Ross Miller, Sean Yacoubian.Boroughmuir: Greg Cannie; Jordan Edmunds, Alex Cox, Mark Hare, Grant McConnell; Chris Laidlaw, Dougie Steele; Dale Robertson, Tristan King, Thomas Gracie, Callum Atkinson, Jamie Ure, Aubrey Mcube, Craig Keddie, Matthew Tweddle. Replacements: Stuart Clark, N/A, Matt Walker, Sam Johnston, Ronan Kerr.Gala v Heriot’s, Netherdale, 3pmGala: Graham Speirs CAPTAIN; Ross Combe, Dwayne Burrows, Lewis Berg, Craig Robertson; Gregor Hunter, George Lott; Chris Keen, Matt Carryer, Terry Skeet, Sean Johnstone, Chris Weir, Gary Adams, Fraser Hunter, Harry Borthwick. Replacements: Dean Brooker, Scott Chapman, Rob Louw, Gregor Mein, Paul Hendry.Heriot’s: Charlie Simpson; Robert Kay, Liam Steele, John Semple, Gavin Parker; Rory Carmichael CAPTAIN, Tom Wilson; Martin Bouab, Michael Liness, Struan Cessford, Martin Hughes, Callum Marshall, Michael Maltman, Jack McLean, Struan Dewar. Replacements: Stewart Mustard, Ruaridh Mitchell, Clarke Smith, Alex Hagart, Andrew Simmers.Currie v Hawick, Malleny Park, 2pmCurrie: Harvey Elms; Ratu Tagive, Richie Vernon, Robbie Nelson, Ben Robbins; Jamie Forbes, Charlie Shiel; AP McWilliam, Fergus Scott, Graeme Carson, Hamish Bain, Mike Vernel, Luke Crosbie, Rhys Davies, Ross Weston CAPTAIN. Replacements: John Cox, Reece Patterson, Stephen Ainslie, Ruaraidh Smith, Matt O’Neil. Hawick: Lee Armstrong; Darcy Graham, Rory Hutton, Gary Johnstone, Kirk Ford; Ali Weir, Bruce Campbell; Shaun Muir, Fraser Renwick, Callum Mackintosh, David Lowrie, Keith McNeil, Ross Gibson, Stuart Graham, N/A. Replacements: Matt Landels, Gary Douglas, Shaun Fairbairn, Grant Huggan, Wesley Hamilton.