BT Premiership Preview: Defending champions host Gala

At Goldenacre this Saturday, Heriot’s welcome Gala and hope to claim victory following their 38-15 away defeat to Currie last weekend.However, Gala will look for a consecutive win after conquering Watsonian’s at home 25-15 in round six of the competition.The two teams are even-stevens in the league – both on 11 points – but Heriot’s are placed sixth and Gala eighth due to point difference.The Edinburgh-based side will therefore aim to overpower Gala to better their position in the league and be in with a chance of reaching the play-offs.More than securing the home win though, Heriot’s will look to improve as the 2015/16 champions have only secured one from three home fixtures this season.Although Gala have the same home track record, their win against Watsonians who are currently fourth in the table will have lit a spark in the squad as they look to build on this triumph.When Heriot’s hosted Gala last season, the score line finished in a draw (18-18) and when Heriot’s travelled to the Borders, they took home a narrow victory 19-20.Heriot’s Head Coach, Phil Smith, has made some necessary changes to his pack as Murray McCallum sees his first involvement with Edinburgh Rugby this weekend which Smith congratulates him on.The squad are also “delighted” to see winger Charlie Simpson return to the back line.Smith commented on his side’s fixture this Saturday: “Last week’s disappointment has been put behind us and we press on to another tough BT Premiership fixture. Gala have had a couple of good victories lately and will be keen to continue this form as a host of clubs now look to climb the very tight middle section of the table.We will focus on getting ourselves right and if we can achieve some much needed momentum, we hope to give the home crowd something to shout about.”For Gala’s team selection, Rory Scholes and Alex Northam are released from Edinburgh Rugby and will start their second games for the club with Captain Graham Speirs switching to wing.In the pack, Harry Borthwick will make his BT Premiership debut for Gala at number 8 with Stevie Cairns moving to blindside flanker.Chris Dalgleish, Gala’s Head Coach, said: “After a much needed win last Saturday we face the exciting prospect of playing the current league and BT cup champions on their home patch.With the league table so tightly contested we know that a run of positive results is essential and our squad are determined to show some consistency of performance and start moving up the league.”Elsewhere in the capital, new league leaders Glasgow Hawks travel to Meggetland to face Boroughmuir, as the hosts aim to keep up their winning ways after defeating Ayr 24-11 at home last weekend.Glasgow Warriors’ Junior Bulumakau starts for Hawks again, and Head Coach Finlay Gillies welcomes Leigh Tyley, who comes onto the bench to make his first appearance for the 1st XV.On the West coast, Ayr look to redeem themselves at Millbrae as they welcome Stirling County, who gave Melrose a good match away from home on Saturday (25-17).D’arcy Rae is released from the Warriors and goes in at tighthead for Ayr and Ross Curle returns to bring his experience to the backline.Watsonian’s prepare for their home fixture against Melrose and look to claim victory and keep their position in the top four, as Head Coach Marcus Di Rollo welcomes young prop Calum Eastwood who could debut from the bench and this year became a BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy player.In the Borders, Hawick welcome Currie and will aim to secure the win as they have only won one from six matches this season; hoping Jack Cosgrove released from Edinburgh will help them achieve success in the front row.Heriots v Gala will be live-tweeted from @Scotlandteam with match build-up from 2pm.Tune into Scottish Rugby TV for an as-live broadcast of Watsonians v Melrose available post-match.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 Seven (Saturday 8 October)Heriots v Gala, Goldenacre, 3pmHeriots: Gavin Parker; Harry Boisseau, Josh Laird, Josh Semple, Charlie Simpson; Rory Carmichael CAPTAIN, Andrew Simmers; Martin Bouab, Michael Liness, Struan Cessford, Callum Marshall, Clarke Smith, Michael Maltman, Jack McLean, Struan Dewar. Replacements: Stewart Mustard, Rhuaridh Mitchell, Euan Jackson, Alex Ball, John Rae.Gala: Rory Scholes; Alex Northam, Lewis Berg, Paul Hendry, Graham Speirs CAPTAIN; Gregor Hunter, Connor Adams; Matt Carryer, Dean Brooker, Chris Keen, Rob Louw, Chris Weir, Gary Adams, Stevie Cairns, Harry Borthwick. Replacements: Curtis Reynolds, Richie Todd, Alan Emond, Ross Combe, Craig Robertson.Boroughmuir v Glasgow Hawks, Meggetland, 3pmBoroughmuir: Greg Cannie; Grant McConnell, Ronan Kerr, Alex Cox, Jordan Edmunds; Chris Laidlaw, Dougie Steele; Ross Dunbar, Stuart Clark, Dan Winning, Jamie Ure, Jamie Scott, Jamie Ritchie, Matt Walker, Craig Keddie CAPTAIN. Replacements: Lewis Robinson, Dale Robertson, Andy Rose, Mark Hare, David Reekie.Glasgow Hawks: Jack Steele; Junior Bulumakau, Bobby Beattie, Brendan McGroarty, Kerr Gossman; George Horne, Sean Yacoubian; Steven Findlay, Scott Rodgers, Gary Strain, Andrew Linton, Andrew Kirkland, Andy Redmayne, Grant Stewart, Tommy Spinks CAPTAIN. Replacements: Paul Cairncross, Brendan Cullinane, Sam Thompson, David Milne, Leigh Tyley. Ayr v Stirling County, Millbrae, 3pmAyr: Grant Anderson CAPTAIN; Richard Dalgleish, Danny McCluskey, Ross Curle, Craig Gossman; Frazier Climo, David Armstrong; Steven Longwell, David Young, D’arcy Rae, Craig Stevenson, Scott Sutherland, George Hunter, Will Bordill, Blair Macpherson. Replacements: Robbie Smith, Ruaridh Mackenzie, Gregor Henry, Jamie Bova, Stafford McDowall.Stirling County: Jonny Hope CAPTAIN; Craig Pringle, Jake Cresswell, Fraser Lyle, Matt Lamb; Ross Jones, Nemia Kenatale; Mark Hunter, Reyner Kennedy, Colin Hutton, Hamilton Burr, Stef Yarrow, Matt Emmison, Shaun MacDonald, Struan Robertson. Replacements: Blair Gilchrist, Adam Woods, Harry Henderson, Matt Donaldson, Ryan Elliston.       Watsonians v Melrose, Myreside, 3pmWatsonians: Ally Davidson; Keith Young, Scott McLeod, Tom Hart, Max McFarland; Andrew Chalmers, Reiss Cullen; Martin Christie CAPTAIN, Darren Miller, Nathan Borel, Fraser Morrison, Craig Borthwick, Sean Crombie, Angus Duckett, Euan Dods. Replacements: Calum Eastwood, Kenny Beattie, Matt Poole, Euan McKirdy, Ewan Scott.Melrose: Craig Jackson; Ross McCann, George Taylor, Richard Taylor, Nyal Godsmark; Jason Baggott, Murdo McAndrew; Jamie Bhatti, Russell Anderson, Ruairi McLeod, James Head, Lewis Carmichael, Neil Irvine Hess, Ruaridh Knott, Ian Moody. Replacements: Richard Ferguson, Dan Elkington, Ali Grieve, David Colvine, Gavin Wood.Hawick v Currie, Mansfield Park, 3pm  Hawick: Ali Weir; Darcy Graham, Gary Johnstone, Joe Nayacavou, Wesley Hamilton; Lee Armstrong, Bruce Campbell; Jack Cosgrove, Fraser Renwick, Callum Mackintosh, Michael Robertson, Bruce McNeil CAPTAIN, Ross Gibson, Struart Graham, Keith Davis. Replacements: Matthew Landels, Dylan Harlen, Dalton Redpath, Kyle Brunton, Neil Renwick.Currie: Harvey Elms; Ben Robbins, Cameron Hutchison, Robbie Nelson, Cameron Gray; James Bywater, Richard Sneddon; John Cox, Fergus Scott, Graeme Carson, Hamish Bain, Stephen Ainslie, Rhys Davies, Thomas Gordon, Ross Weston CAPTAIN. Replacements: AP McWilliam, Jarrod Firth, Luke Crosbie, Scott McGinley, Charlie Shiel.