Premier 1: Derek Armstrong aiming high as split looms

HAWICK coach Derek Armstrong has just one obvious ambition this afternoon and that is to beat Border rivals Selkirk at Philiphaugh - who brought in help from ex-Scotland coach Frank Hadden after a 92-point thrashing - and secure his side's place in the top eight.

However, he said yesterday that not all of the Mansfield faithful share that aim as the Premier One and Premier Two divisions prepare for the new league split. After today's games the 24 clubs in the top two divisions will be grouped into three pools of eight, the top eight to contest the Premier One title, the second to determine relegation from and promotion to the top flight and the third to fight out the two relegation spots into Premier Three.

Ayr, Melrose, Glasgow Hawks, Heriot's, Currie, Boroughmuir and Dundee HSFP are all secure in the top eight, while West of Scotland, Selkirk and Watsonians cannot escape the bottom four, which leaves the newcomers from Premier Two this season, Hawick and Stirling County, fighting today for a top eight spot.

Hawick are a point ahead and have a far greater points difference so any win would lead them from the relegation battle, while defeat at Philiphaugh combined with a County victory at home to Melrose - or even a County defeat but within seven points and with four tries - would send Eddie Pollock's team into the top eight.

The new fixtures will be announced on Tuesday with an attempt to even up home and away games so all clubs finish the league campaign having played nine home and nine away games. Noting that Hawick face more games away after the split, Armstrong explained: "I've had some supporters saying to me that the rest of the league season would actually be better if we finished in the bottom four and then had a good number of Border derbies to take us through the next seven rounds.

"I understand what some of them are saying about that bigger crowds and more revenue if we don't actually get in the top eight, and the enjoyment of the local banter in games that matter - it would be like seven cup finals someone said the other day - but my job as coach and the players' job is to keep Hawick in Premier One and that's all we're interested in this weekend.

"If we can achieve that then we'll be able to look back on our return to the top flight as being a success, no matter what happens over the rest of the season."

He may have a concern about motivating players after the split, but if only that was all Graham Marshall, his opposite number in the Selkirk camp, had to worry about. Marshall has been striving to lift his charges this week after their 92-0 defeat at Glasgow Hawks. Armstrong expects a backlash; Marshall is praying for one.

"You can't change history," said Marshall. "We can only effect the future.It was a nightmare watching your team get well beaten, but it was a nightmare for players playing in a game like that.

"We haven't analysed it because there was nothing positive to take from it. We've put in an extra session this week, had Frank Hadden down on Tuesday to bring a different voice in and for me it's not about Glasgow Hawks, or Hawick, now; it's about us, and how we get confidence back in our performance.

"We have good players at this club and now they are back in front of their home support and will want to show the pride they have in the Selkirk jersey. We have faced relegation to Premier Three and come back, lost 88 points to Currie last season and come back, and now we have to prove to ourselves that we have what it takes to come back again. I believe in this team and in the long-term hopefully this experience will do them a lot of good."

Premier Two has more excitement bubbling in the pot as six teams could still make it into the top four and their shot at promotion. Gala are secure but they travel to Peebles in another Border derby that matters as the hosts will probably need a victory to grab the fourth spot ahead of Falkirk and Hillhead/Jordanhill.