MELROSE, approaching their fifth Scottish club title in seven years, have recalled Kevin Allan and Andrew Kerr to their pack for the Tennents Premiership match against Gala at the Greenyards tomorrow.
Allan, after injury, returns at tight head whereas Kerr, making his first appearance of the season, will be at open-side wing forward. Not only is Kerr an expert at winning ball on the ground but his return creates the former champions' probably best balanced back-row blend, with Isaac Feaunati switching to No.8. Doddie Weir moves to lock.
Gala, who scored a rare championship win over Hawick last week, field an unchanged team for their last blast at the top level before they slip down into Division 2.
Melrose control the race for the title. Not only are they in front but they also have a points differential superior to any of those of the three other contenders. Boroughmuir are one point behind whereas Watsonians and Stirling County are two adrift. But County, the defending champions, have a game in hand.
Boroughmuir and Stirling meet at Bridgehaugh tomorrow, but neither has defined a team. Stirling have added Angus Turner, Murray Fraser, Jim Brough, and John Gibson to the 15 who played last week against Melrose at Bridgehaugh. If Fraser were to play it would be his first senior club match since he was ordered off against Heriot's nine weeks ago.
Jamie Mayer, a schools cap, has a game at centre for Watsonians against Hawick at Myreside, allowing Andrew Garry to switch to stand-off in place of the injured Duncan Hodge.
Ayrshire's two premiership clubs each take the opportunity of a break from competitive club rugby to introduce a newcomer. Graeme Ferguson, a full back in Glasgow's squad preparing for the under-19 district championship, will be at stand-off for Ayr on their visit to Peebles, whereas Kilmarnock call on Andrew McMurray, the former Watsonian prop, for their match at Grangemouth.
Stewart's Melville give debuts to Adrian Service and David Pickering against Ballymena at Eaton Park. Service, however, is no stranger to Eaton Park as he hails from Ballymena.
q.GLASGOW make five personnel changes to the side which defeated Griqualand West 21-7 for their opening inter-district championship match against North and Midlands at Beveridge Park, Kirkcaldy, on Wednesday, with Ian Jardine, Kenny Logan, Cammy Little, Guy Perrett, and Iain Sinclair come into the side.
Four capped players - Kevin McKenzie, Shade Munro, Alan Watt, and Derek Stark - could not be considered because of injury. Team:
C Sangster (Stirling County); T Mathewson (Glasgow Academicals), I Jardine (Stirling County), A Garry (Watsonians), K Logan (Stirling County); C MacGregor (Glasgow Academicals), C Little (GHK); J Gibson (Stirling County), G Bulloch (West of Scotland), G McIlwham (GHK) M Norval (Stirling County), G Perrett (West of Scotland), F Wallace (Boroughmuir) M Wallace (GHK) I Sinclair (Watsonians). Replacements - C Simmers (Edinburgh Academicals), J McLeod (GHK), F Stott (West of Scotland), M Begley, G Doran (both Glasgow Academicals), C Docherty (GHK).
q.GLASGOW, beaten 22-13 by South last week, have made nine changes for the under-18 district match against Edinburgh at Haddington tomorrow.
Jamie Millan has been called up at stand-off in a recast back division in which only Fraser Kennedy remains where he was last week, and Gordon Sykes has been introduced at tight head. Team:
S McAllister (Stirling County); A Hutchinson (Cambuslang), C Smith (Ayr), S Kidd (Kilmarnock), A Pollock (Glasgow Southern); J Millan (GHK), F Kennedy (Stirling County); L Haycock (Mid-Argyll), A Smith (Stirling County), G Sykes (Ayr), S Bryce (Dalziel), J Toner (Allan Glen's), B Allan (Hamilton Academicals), A Lees (Ayr, captain), D Wilson (GHK). Replacements - N Craig (West of Scotland), S Weston (Hillhead/Jordanhill), M Dick (Cambuslang), J Maclay (GHK), T McCulloch (Stirling County), J Mundell (Cartha Queen's Park), J Crump (Dumfries).
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