Plenty of intrigue as Premiership return fixtures offer chance of revenge

The teams who meet each other in the Tennent’s Premiership this afternoon will be very familiar with each other, because they all played as recently as last weekend.

It does not happen often in a league that you play the same opponents just days apart, but with incidents from last week’s games still fresh in the memory,expectthesereturnlegstobe fairly intriguing.

Leaders Hawick made it 10 wins on the spin seven days ago as they thumped bottom side Musselburgh 55-5. The Greens nowmakethetriptoeastlothian with captain Matty Carryer, Nicky Little, Daniel Suddon and Stuart Graham coming in to freshen up their pack. The Stoneyhill outfit did manage to defeat Marr in their last home game, so that will give them some hope and they also have Edinburgh Rugby academy second-row Jamie Campbell released to bolster their ranks.

Second-placed Currie Chieftainswillbeaimingtowidenthe gap between themselves and third-placed Edinburgh Accies when they travel to Raeburn

Place. Gregor Townsend’s son Christian, the Glasgow Warriors academy player, starts at 10 for Currie, while Accies have Matthewcrowthercominginto the all-important number seven jersey.

Fourth-placed Selkirk swept aside Jed-forest last Friday, but know it will be a much tougher matchatriversideparkagainst their eighth-placed opponents.

Seventh-placedghaareback at Braidholm and looking to do thedoubleoverlocalrivalsglasgowhawkswhoareinfifth,but cannot find any consistency.

And last year’s champions Marr have finally found form and another win over ninth-placed Heriot’s Blues at Goldenacre would help them to keep up the pressure on the top four.

Meanwhile, before the club fixtures, earlier in the day the

Scottishschoolsunder-18boys’ cup semi-finals take place.

Last year’s winners Merchiston Castle School are on the road to take on Strathallan School,whilestewart’smelville College welcome Edinburgh Academy to Inverleith.

Over the weekend, there are a number of other semi-final ties in other schools and youth cup, shield,plateandbowleventsfor boys and girls too.