Accies and Hawks in crucial clash to avoid the drop

THE battle to avoid relegation from the Premiership reaches a potentially decisive moment this afternoon when bottom-ofthe-table Edinburgh Accies host second-bottom Glasgow Hawks.

Both clubs have rearranged fixtures still to play – Accies have two more, Hawks just one – but they are against the top three in the league. This, then, looks like the best chance for either side to save themselves from the drop by claiming a precious win.

Only a point separates the sides, so nothing will be decided today. But, with just one team going down to the Championship, the coaches will need to say little to persuade their players of the magnitude of the match.

Third-bottom Musselburgh will all but guarantee safety if they beat Currie Chieftains at home in their last league fixture, but that is a big ask against a team who have kept up the chase on leaders Marr all season.

GHA, who are still in trouble after losing at home to Musselburgh last week, visit Selkirk in their last game.

Hawick, still in the hunt for a home semi-final, visit a Jed-Forest side who will be out to exact revenge for their 33-0 humbling earlier in the season. Marr are away to Aberdeen Grammar, knowing that if they win and results elsewhere go their way they will finish top of the pile.

Last night, Watsonians beat the Southern Knights 28-26 at Myreside in the final game of the regular Super6 season last night to go back to the top of the table. The result means the teams will meet again at the Edinburgh venue in the play-off semi-finals in a fortnight. Second-place Heriot’s will be at home to Ayrshire Bulls, who finished third, in the other semi. Both ties will be played on the weekend of March 20-22.

The Knights were ahead for a spell in both halves, but the home side have made a habit of finishing strongly, and did the trick again with two late tries. Captain Lee Millar got the winning conversion.