THE fight at the top of the Super6 table could hardly be closer, but the near-deadlock is likely to be broken today when second-placed Ayrshire Bulls visit leaders Watsonians.
The Bulls beat the Myreside club 19-13 at Millbrae just before Christmas, yet despite that first loss of the season, Watsonians hung on to top spot, being level on points with their rivals but having a marginally superior points differential, 50 compared to 48.
Glasgow Warriors professionals Lee Jones and Stafford McDowall both start in the Bulls back line, while Edinburgh prop Jack Stanley makes his comeback for the home side after being injured in the first game of the season.
Third-placed Heriot’s visit Stirling County this afternoon knowing a win will take them closer to at least one of the top two. Heriot’s won their last three games before the Christmas break, the most recent having been a 10-point victory over County at home. Stirling themselves have not won since the opening day of the competition in November.
Tomorrow’s final round-seven fixture sees the Southern Knights at home to Boroughmuir Bears, the team they beat at Meggetland last weekend. That win, the Knights’ first of the season, took the Melrose-based club above the Bears and County and into fourth place. Another victory in this return fixture would increase their chances of cementing a play-off place, even if a top-two finish and a home semi-final are almost certainly beyond them.
In the Premiership, the biggest game is arguably at the foot of the table, where bottom club Musselburgh are at home to Jed-Forest. A win for the Borderers would further ease their relegation fears following their hard-fought victory over Selkirk last week, while Musselburgh are in desperate need of points to avoid the risk of being cut further adrift.
The one thing that could play in the East Lothian team’s favour is that the two teams immediately above them both have tough fixtures. Edinburgh Accies visit Hawick, who continue to enjoy the best form in the division after shrugging off an inconsistent start to the campaign, while Glasgow Hawks are at Currie Chieftains, who are now in a fight with Hawick to secure a home semi-final in the play-offs. Accies have two games in hand over Musselburgh while Hawks have one, and both are four points clear, so if they do upset the odds today a defeat for the stragglers at home would be doubly significant.
Leaders Marr, meanwhile, visit Selkirk, who are now only three points ahead of Aberdeen Grammar in the fourth and final play-off place. Grammar themselves visit GHA, who like Jed are on the fringes of the relegation battle.
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