HERIOT’S and Ayrshire Bulls go head to head in the last round of Super6 regular-season action tomorrow (Sunday), with a home semi-final the prize for the winners. The Goldenacre club, second in the table, are a point ahead of their third-placed visitors, who they beat at Millbrae in the opening weekend of the new tournament.
“Our last fixture was a tough contest that ultimately was lost by our high penalty count,” Heriot’s coach Phil Smith said, referring to his team’s narrow defeat by leaders Watsonians. “If we can be better disciplined and continue to be accurate in our attack I am hopeful of giving a resurgent Ayrshire Bulls a full 80-minute contest.”
The Bulls line-up includes winger Kody McGovern, signed from Watsonians under the emergency injury cover regulations.
Watsonians themselves meet the Southern Knights at Myreside today, with the teams already knowing they will be home and away respectively in the semis. The Knights have been the form side in the competition since the turn of the year, winning all four of their games to climb into the play-off places, and if they keep up that run this afternoon will have no fears about going to either Goldenacre or Millbrae for their semi-final.
Stirling County and Boroughmuir also meet today – at Oriam, as Bridgehaugh is unplayable – and will meet again in the two-leg play-off for fifth place. The semis are on the weekend of Friday 20 to Sunday 22 March, with the final at Scotstoun the following Saturday.
In the Premiership, where there are still several rounds of fixtures to go, the picture is far less clear. One place in the play-offs alongside Marr, Currie Chieftains and Hawick is still up for grabs, while at the other end of the table five clubs are embroiled in the fight to avoid the single relegation place.
The big battle at the bottom today is at Braidholm, where seventh-placed GHA will finally secure safety if they beat Musselburgh. That result will also preserve the Premiership future of sixth-placed Jed-Forest, even if they lose at Currie Chieftains, but if Musselburgh win then everything is back in the melting pot.
Glasgow Hawks, bottom of the table but with a game in hand on most of their immediate rivals, are at leaders Marr. Edinburgh Accies are at home to Selkirk, while Aberdeen Grammar visit Hawick.
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