Updated: Arnold Clark Men's Premiership round 16: runners, riders and verdict
Today at 10:32 AM
KELSO host Melrose at Poynder Park on Saturday afternoon with Arnold Clark Premiership league points, Border League points and the Bill McLaren Shield all up for grabs. Meanwhile, there is another fierce Border derby on the cards at Philiphaugh where in-form Selkirk host Hawick.
Bottom of the table Musselburgh face a big challenge at home against high-flying Heriot’s, while Glasgow Hawks and Edinburgh Accies will both have identified their clash at Balgray as a valuable opportunity to gather some much needed points to ease their respective relegation concerns.
How It Stands –
6N: Scotland v Ireland: three changes to home starting XV
6N: Scotland v Ireland: Peter O'Mahony and Robbie Henshaw return to visiting starting XV
Celtic Challenge: Edinburgh and Glasgow name teams ahead of trips to Llanelli and Cork
The Lowdown –
Glasgow Hawks v Edinburgh Accies
Venue: Balgray @ 2pm
Teams –
Glasgow Hawks: TBC.
Edinburgh Accies: M Wallace; Gavin Welsh, N Armstong ©, C Allan, R Kent; J Loomes, P Ritchie; C Imrie, F McAslan, C Crookshanks, G Davis, S Whittaker, G Napier, R Purvis, T Drennan. Subs: G Shannon, P Hayes, E McVie, C Bain, B Grainger, B V Hart, R Chalmers.
Key clash: TBC
Team news –
Glasgow Hawks: TBC.
Edinburgh Accies: Patrick Ritchie and Jamie Loomes return at nine and 10 meaning Ben Grainger and Vincent Hart will look to make an impact from the bench. Also among the replacements, Euan McVie is released by Edinburgh Rugby to play and Robbie Chalmers returns from injury.
What the coaches say –
"We are used to having 'ding-dong' battles with Hawks in recent years and I'm sure that this one will be no different. We know we will need to match Hawks physically as well as ensuring that we maintain focus and concentration for the full 80 minutes to give ourselves a chance of leaving Balgray with points …"– Iain Berthinussen (Edinburgh Accies)
Verdict: As Iain Berthinussen says, there have been some real 'ding dong' battles between these sides of late and this one has a lot riding on it too given they sit eighth and ninth in the table respectively.. Hawks' battling draw away to Melrose may have given them the confidence, but Accies' second half versus Selkirk will have hurt them and Euan McVie could influence this game off the bench.
Away win.
Kelso v Melrose
(for the Bill McLaren Shield)
Venue: Poynder Park @ 3pm
Teams –
Kelso: A Barbour; D Patterson co-©, A Hall, F Robson, H Tweedie; L Herdman, A Tait; G Shiells, E Knox, D Gamble, C Thompson, K Melbourne co-©, J Utterson, M Woodcock, B McNeil. Subs: N Barnes, A Frame, A Orr, S Wood, W Tweedie, A Jackson, R Tweedie.
Melrose: H Weir; B Colvine, E Ruthven, R Brett, C Goldsbrough; L Townsend, D Crawford; J Dobie, L Kirk, Z Swarzagak, A Common, A Runciman ©, W Ferrie, A Ferrie, C Fairbairn. Subs: A Ceballos, M Rutherford, J Wilks, S Hutchinson, D Mulcahy, M Gabe.
Key clash: Adam Hall versus Elliot Ruthven
Team news –
Kelso: It is the same 15 players as ran out against Ayr a fortnight ago for the first time this season. Sam Wood returns on the replacements bench and Arran Jackson is also included there after impressing against Jed-Forest in the Border League last Friday.
Melrose: Elliot Ruthven moves from the back-row to 13 while Bruce Colvine is on the wing, and Doug Crawford is at nine. Jack Dobie is at loose-head with Angus Common in the second-row and Craig Fairbairn at No 8.
What the coaches say –
"After a big loss away to Ayr it's an opportunity to get back on the horse and look to get ourselves out of the bottom three. Melrose are having a good season and we will need to stick to the game plan to get on top of a team that likes to play from anywhere …" – Bruce McNeil (Kelso)
"It was a hard selection this week due to a couple of players returning and wider squad playing so well against Peebles last week in the Border League. The boys really looking forward to it as we know we've been below par at the start of the year …"– Scott Wight (Melrose)
Verdict: In October, Melrose won the corresponding fixture 31-28 at The Greenyards and this one could be tight too. A settled team, home advantage and a desire to get out of the relegation zone might just help Kelso win this one.
Home win.
Musselburgh v Heriot's
Venue: Stoneyhill @ 3pm
Teams –
Musselburgh: B Weatherhead; T Foley, R Watt ©, R Smith, S Watt; D Owenson, J Rule; R Brown, J Talac, H Meadows, J Haynes, J Arnold, P Bogie, F Duraj, J Lister. Subs: B Stott, E Bonthron, A Mataitini, M Crawford, B Heber, P Cunningham, M McCowan.
Heriot's: D King; Z Ross, T Glendinning, F Gibson, G Coull; C Townsend, S Broad; C Keen, M Liness, S Cessford, P Spence, J Campbell, J Hill, S Wallace, R Leishman ©. Subs: A Johnston, A Munro, O Bowden, M Keough, R Kirkpatrick, S Smith, R Jones.
Key clash: Bruce Weatherhead versus Dan King
Team news –
Musselburgh: Jack Haynes earns another start after a battling performance against Hawick and is joined in the second-row by Joss Arnold who has fought his way back into the side after some decent performances off the bench. Young full-back Bruce Weatherhead keeps his shirt after his first game in Hawick with Danny Owenson making a return at stand-off.
Heriot's: Christian Townsend gets a start at 10 in an otherwise unchanged back division. Up front, Pat Spence is released from Scotland under-20 camp and Sam Wallace is fit again, so Jason Hill drops backs to his favoured back-row slot and Rory Kirkpatrick will start on the bench.
What the coaches say –
"This is the start of a very challenging five-week block for us and it’s important we step up and keep consistency across 80 minutes of rugby. We have shown in patches of late what we can do on both sides of the ball in response to going behind or finding ourselves ‘out of a game’. We need to be prepared to bring the fight to Heriots from the start …"– Derek O'Riordan (Musselburgh)
"We expect a fired-up Musselburgh side to come at us very hard on their own patch. Some aspects of our game have worked very well for us so far in 2025, but there's a couple of areas we want to focus on and tidy up …"– Bob McKillop (Heriot's)
Verdict: It is hard to see past a Heriot's triumph here although Musselburgh do have the experienced Danny Owenson back which is a boost in terms of controlling any possession they have.
Away win.
Selkirk v Hawick
Venue: 3pm @ Philiphaugh
Teams –
Selkirk: C Anderson; J Welsh, A Grant-Suttie, R Nixon, B Pickles; Aaron McColm, H Alderson; L Pettie, J Bett, B Riddell, Andrew McColm ©, J Fisher, C Tait, T Wilson, K Westlake. Subs: C Cochrane, C Smyth, R Joyce, L Cassidy, O McClymont, B Cullen, E Wilson.
Hawick: K Ford; M Reid, A Mitchell, L Armstrong, C Welsh; C Riddell, L Henry; S Muir ©, R Anderson, N Little, S Frizzel, H Donaldson, F Renwick, M Brogan, C Sutherland. Subs: A Cannon, M Atkinson, M Renwick, G Welsh, G Huggan, F Douglas, O Gray.
Key clash: Corey Tait versus Marcus Brogan
Team news –
Selkirk: Ross Nixon returns to the starting team this week at 12 and is the only change to the match-day squad. Brodie Allan is out injured and should be available for selection next week. Corey Tait, playing at openside-flanker rather than in his usual hooker slot, will feel he has something to prove against home hometown club.
Hawick: Fergus Bell, Kyle Brunton and Morgan Tait all suffered injuries in midweek. Russell Anderson returns from injury to start at hooker, Cian Riddell gets a start at 10 and Logan Henry comes in to partner him from nine. Youngsters Finlay Douglas and Owain Gray will be looking to take their chance should it come from the bench.
What the coaches say –
"We have kept our focus and intensity during this week's training to prepare for another massive game against Hawick. After a good win on the road against Edinburgh Accies, we are desperate to keep the momentum going our way. We all know Hawick will be physical and can play attacking rugby that can hurt you if you give them space. Border derbies are huge games to be involved in and we will need to keep our focus on what will be another battle from the start …"– Gordon Henderson (Selkirk)
"It was disappointing not to get a game last week [versus Gala in the Border League] after a good result against Musselburgh, however the boys have trained well over the last couple of weeks and know the battle that will be coming at Philiphaugh. We have to stay disciplined, remain on the right side of the referee's whistle and put in another 80-minute performance if we want to come out on the right side of the result against a Selkirk team who are going well this season …" – Gary Muir (Hawick DoR)
Verdict: This should be a cracking contest and it will be a big day at 10 for Cian Riddell for Hawick. Home advantage and the good momentum they have built up via a settled squad may get Selkirk over the line here.
Home win.
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