Coaches relish clash of the titans

Millbrae will be bursting at the seams when Ayr and Melrose kick off their RBS Premier One clash at 3pm with both sides having won their opening two fixtures.

Ayr have perhaps not been at their best so far in seeing off Edinburgh Accies and Gala, but it is perhaps not surprising given that the team has lost a number of key figures from 2010/11.

The likes of Mark Bennett, Damien Kelly, Glenn Tippett and Robbie Colhoun – who were so influential last term – will not be playing today, with some having left the club and Colhoun still to regain full fitness.

However, new players like Kiwi stand-off Nick Elrick and Australian second-row Josh Dunning have showed glimpses of what they are all about in the opening fortnight and Mark Stewart returns to today’s starting line-up.

Ayr head coach Kenny Murray said: “Last week’s game against Gala was a tough encounter and we were happy to come away with a win. This week we play the league’s top team in Melrose and we will have to be at our very best if we are to maintain our winning streak. In recent years, our games against Melrose have been very tight and I anticipate that this encounter will be no different.”

Melrose travel to Ayrshire having scored 71 points to record victories over Aberdeen Grammar and Currie in the past two weeks. Richard Ferguson comes in for Alun Walker at hooker, with the latter travelling to Wales with Edinburgh as part of a 25-man squad for their encounter with Neath Swansea Ospreys.

Melrose head coach Craig Chalmers said: “After a good home win and a better performance against Currie, we head to Millbrae to play Ayr in what should be a great game.

“Ayr have started well with two wins like ourselves, so something has to give this weekend. We don’t have a great record on the west coast, but have come close on a number of occasions. Let’s hope we can get that wee bit of luck that will get us a result on. It’s a huge challenge that I believe the boys are ready for.”

In terms of where the game will be won or lost, the front-row area – as always – will be crucial, with Andrew Kelly, Stewart Fenwick and Gordon Sykes up against Chris Keen, Richard Ferguson and Gary Holborn.

In particular, it will be interesting to see how young Keen, impressive since joining Melrose from Kelso in the summer, does against more experienced opponents.

And behind the scrum, the battle between stand-offs Elrick and Andrew Skeen – both still settling in to new surroundings – will be intriguing, with both players possessing undoubted talent.

The two other sides in the top flight with two wins from two so far both have home matches to look forward to this afternoon.

Heriot’s host Edinburgh Accies with Michael Goldie back at stand-off for the unavailable Cammy Ferguson, while Dundee HSFP welcome Hawick to Mayfield. The Taysiders have been boosted by the return of vice-skipper Harry Duthie, who starts at outside centre.

Glasgow Hawks have won one and drawn one so far, but head coach Peter Wright was not happy with the performance against Accies last week – scraping a 22-22 draw – and has responded by making a number of changes for today’s encounter against Gala.

Elsewhere this afternoon, Currie head to Aberdeen Grammar, with both sides looking for their first win, and Boroughmuir take on Stirling County.