Previewing – Friday 6 March 

A win for Watsonians this weekend would ensure the Myreside team a home play-off against the Southern Knights, Fergus Pringle’s squad will be doing all they can to finish top of the league at the end of the regular season.

Pringle has made a host of changes to the team who won at home to Heriot’s Rugby in round nine. Sam Grahamslaw comes into the front row for Jack Stanley, he will pack down alongside Cal Davies and Nathan Borel while Michael Badenhorst comes into the second row to partner Jamie Hodgson. FOSROC Player of the Match last time out James Miller retains his spot at openside flank, joined in the back row by Edinburgh Rugby’s Mesu Kunavula and Harry Fisher who earns his first start in the FOSROC Super6 at number eight.

Ali Harris comes back into the starting line-up at scrum-half, he will partner current top points scorer Lee Millar at stand-off. Joe Reynolds and Lewis Berg maintain their centre partnership, Ru Smith comes onto the wing alongside Lomond Macpherson with Jamie Forbes completing the starting line-up

The Southern Knights have found their form in the second half of the season recording wins in their last four games. A win against Wastonians would see them finish in third place in the FOSROC Super6 league table, meaning they would play the men from Myreside again in the play-offs.

Head Coach Rob Chrystie has made a number of changes to his Knights team who were victorious over Stirling County at The Greenyards. FOSROC Academy Stage 3 prop Shaun Gunn starts in the front row alongside Fraser Renwick at hooker and the experienced Ewan Mcquillan. In the second row James Head links up with Dalton Redpath who earns his first start back after illness. Iain Moody comes back into the starting XV at blind side flanker, with Ruaridh Knott moving across to open side and Neil Irvine-Hess retaining his position at number eight.

Chrystie has selected Bruce Colvine and Edinburgh Rugby’s Jason Baggott as the half-back partnership whilst the centre pairing of Gavin Wood and Joe Jenkins remains unchanged from last time out. Fraser Thomson and Ciaran Whyte start at full-back with winger Iain Sim earning his first start in the FOSROC Super6.

Previewing – Weekend Saturday 29 Feb – Sunday 1 March

Tomorrow [Saturday] Stirling County host Boroughmuir Bears at the Oriam in the first indoor match of the tournament, whilst the Southern Knights will travel to the capital to face Watsonians who currently top the FOSROC Super6 league table. [Watsonians v Southern Knights was postponed to Friday 6 March as the pitch at Myerside was deemed unplayable]

On Sunday Ayrshire Bulls return to the capital to play Heriot’s Rugby in the battle to secure a home fixture in the play-offs, the match will be broadcast live online on Scottish Rugby TV and BBC Sport Scotland.

In light of the recent wet weather the pitches at Bridgehaugh are unplayable, Stirling County have secured Oriam’s facilities to ensure their fixture against the Bears is fulfilled.

A victory in this match would cement County’s fifth place finish ensuring a home fixture for the first leg of the fifth v sixth play-off.

Ben Cairns has made a number of changes to the side who travelled to Melrose to play the Southern Knights in round nine due to injury and unavailability. In the front row Billy Dineen and Charlie Brown will start alongside skipper Reyner Kennedy at hooker. The second row of Ollie Bartlett and James Pow remain the same from last time out, as does the back row of Connor Gordon at open side, George Arnott at blind side and Dean Taylor-Menzies at number eight.

There is a new half-back partnership of Sean Kennedy at scrum-half and Andrew Goudie at stand-off. Craig Jardine comes into the starting squad after impressing Carins last time out, he starts at inside centre with Landon Hayes pushing out 13, with Robbie Kent dropping to the bench. Ewan MacGarvie and Logan Trotter once again start on either wing with Glasgow Warriors Brandon Thomson starting at full-back in place of injured Ollie Horne.

Boroughmuir Bears will target this game as their second victory of the season, a win could lift them from the bottom of the league to fifth place, and secure that home fixture during the first leg of the fifth v sixth play-off.

Head Coach Graham Sheil has made very few changes to his side who played Ayrshire Bulls last weekend.

In the front row Michael Downer starts alongside Toby Francombe and Dan Winning, who had his first taste of professional rugby for Edinburgh against Connacht last weekend. There is a welcome return for Callum Atkinson to the second row alongside Ewan Stewart, whilst the back row of David Medjebeur, Scott McGinley and Craig Keddie all retain their positions from last weekend.

Keeping their starting positions at scrum-half and stand-off are Murray Johnstone and Chris Laidlaw, as do the centre pairing of Archie Russell and Ronan Kerr. Last week’s full-back and try scorer Glen Faulds moves to the wing, with Jordan Edmunds on the other wing which allows Gavin Parker to start at full-back.

Heriot’s Rugby will look to hold on to second place in the FOSROC Super6 table when the host Ayrshire Bulls at home tomorrow [Sunday] The win would ensure them a home fixture in the play-offs at the end of March.

Phil Smith has made very few changes to his side who pushed Watsonians close in round nine. The front row of Andrew Nimmo, Ali Johnstone and Josh Henderson remain unchanged, in the second row Callum Marshall and Ronan Seydak come in for Adam Sinclair and Charlie Jupp. The back row of Jack McClean, Jason Hill and skipper Iain Wilson also retain their positions from last time out.

Andrew Simmers starts again at scrum-half and will partner Ross Jones at stand-off in place of Stuart Edwards. Robert Kay returns from injury to link up with Cameron Hutchison in the centre, James Couper and James Spencer occupy the wings whilst Rory McMichael returns from injury to start at fullback.

Ayrshire Bulls will be looking to capitalise on their performance against Boroughmuir Bears last weekend. They too could earn themselves a home play-off if they are victorious in tomorrow’s match.

Gordon Reid, Sam Kitchen and Nico Gruffiths return to the front row whilst Marshall Sykes returns to the starting squad alongside Lars Morris in the second row. The back row remains unchanged with George Bordill, Blair Macpherson and captain Peter McCallum keeping their jerseys from last week.

The experienced Frazer Climo makes a welcome return to the position of stand-off where he will partner last week’s FOSROC Player of the Match Harry Warr at scrum-half. Isaac McNulty and Danny McCluskey return to the midfield whilst new signing Kody McGovern starts on the wing. McGovern has moved to Ayrshire Bulls from Watsonians to provide injury cover for the the west coast side.

Try scorer from last week Craig Gossman starts on the opposite wing with FOSROC Academy stage 3 player Ross Thomson at full-back.