HERIOT’S guaranteed themselves a home Super6 semi-final with a 26-15 win over the Ayrshire Bulls at Goldenacre – and it now looks likely that the Bulls will be their opponents in that match this month.
There is one outstanding game to be played before the regular season is complete, between Watsonians and fourth-placed Southern Knights, which was postponed on Saturday. Watsonians, who are now two points behind Heriot’s, will also be at home in the last four, and most of the possible outcomes of their game with the Knights would see the Melrose-based team return to Myreside for the semi.
In effect Heriot’s had to win their game twice over before finally getting the better of the Bulls, as they went 12-0 up before being pegged back to 12-10 midway through the second half. But two late tries sealed it for them, and they were able to withstand the loss of inspiring back-row forward Jason Hill, who was sent off two minutes from time for a second yellow-card offence.
Stirling County beat Boroughmuir Bears 36-34 on Saturday in the other Super6 match. The pair will meet this month in the two-legged fifth-versus-sixth play-off.
In the Premiership, Selkirk secured the fourth and last play-off place with a 33-20 win at Edinburgh Accies, a result that sent the Raeburn Place club to the bottom of the table. Glasgow Hawks were the beneficiaries of that result, and of their own battling performance at leaders Marr, as they picked up a potentially vital losing bonus point in a 12-10 defeat.
Hawks are still just a point ahead of Accies, however, and have just two games left to play compared to their relegation rivals’ three, as well as having a significantly worse points difference. With only the bottom club going down, the meeting between the two in the capital on Saturday will go a long way to determining the outcome of the fight to beat the drop.
While Hawks and Accies are deep in trouble, Musselburgh eased their relegation worries with a 15-6 win at GHA. Those two are now level on 33 points, five ahead of Hawks, but having played a game more.
Hawick enjoyed a 54-7 home trouncing of Aberdeen Grammar to remain third, but could still secure a home semi-final if they overtake Currie Chieftains, who beat Jed-Forest 36-26.
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