Friday 9 December 2016

Ayr v Hawick preview


It's the final home game of 2016 on Saturday as Ayr welcome Hawick for round thirteen of the BT Premiership, kicking off at 3pm at Millbrae.

The first encounter of the season between the two sides at Mansfield Park was a terrific spectacle and both will be giving it their all once again, Hawick to try and lift themselves from the bottom of the table and Ayr to catch up Melrose at the top.

Ayr head coach Calum Forrester knows that, despite Hawick's lowly placing in the league, his players will have to be at their best to get past the marauding greens.

'Hawick have been in good form in their last few outings, so will be coming to Millbrae full of confidence,' he says. 'We started well at Gala last week but we will need to keep that performance up for eighty minutes on Saturday.'

Injuries have forced changes to the squad and a shuffling of the pack. George Hunter starts in the second row alongside Ruaridh Mackenzie, whilst David Young is at openside flanker after a few appearances from the bench in the back row this season.

Glasgow Warriors' Djustice Sears-Duru and James Malcolm make up the front row with Steven Longwell. 

Harry Warr will be calling the shots at scrum-half after an assured debut earlier in the season. Danny McCluskey starts on the right wing.

Lewis Anderson and Robbie Smith take their place amongst the replacements. 

Ayr
15. Grant Anderson; 14. Danny McCluskey, 13. Archie Russell, 12. Ross Curle, 11. Craig Gossman; 10. Frazier Climo, 9. Harry Warr; 1. Djustice Sears-Duru, 2. James Malcolm, 3. Steven Longwell; 4. Ruaridh Mackenzie, 5. George Hunter; 6. Blair Macpherson, 7. David Young, 8. Pete McCallum (c).

Replacements
16. Lewis Anderson, 17. Robbie Smith, 18. Craig Stevenson, 19. Richard Dalgleish, 20. Stafford McDowall.

Kick-off 3pm. If you can't be at Millbrae, follow the scores live on Twitter.

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