Hostilities resume as Marr take on Hawick

MATCH of the day as the Tennent’s Premiership returns after a five- week break this afternoon will be at Fullarton Park in Troon, where last season’s champions Marr host current table- toppers Hawick.

The hosts had a dumpy start to the season, losing six out of their first nine matches, but are now on a four- match winning streak which has taken them to fifth in the table, just two points adrift of the fourth play- off slot which is currently occupied by Selkirk.

“After an extended break due to the weather, there is no tougher test than playing an undefeated Hawick,” said Marr director of rugby Craig Redpath. “They are the best team in the league and have been bolstered by players returning to their club from Super6.

“We are expecting to face a very motivated and physical Hawick team who will be expecting to continue their undefeated run. If we wish to maintain any chance of making the top four, we need to have our best performance of season.”

The visitors are missing talismanic No. 8 Jae Linton, but their strength in depth is demonstrated by the fact that former Southern Knights forward Dalton Redpath can only make the bench.

“Marr are a tough side to beat at home and are starting to hit some form, and they are current Premiership champions for a reason,” said head coach Matty Douglas. “It’s a massive game in the context of the league as there’s no room for a slip- up in January. It will come down to how we approach the game and if we execute what we have worked on.”

Meanwhile, second- in- thetable Currie Chieftains are boosted by the return from injury of influential stand- off Gregor Hunter for the visit to Malleny Park of Glasgow Hawks, GHA host Selkirk at Braidholm, second- bottom Heriot’s and third- bottom Jed- Forest have it all to play for at Goldenacre, and Edinburgh Accies welcome Musselburgh to Raeburn Place.