Dave McCall wings in to boost Melrose cause

LEADERS Melrose have been boosted by the inclusion of Glasgow pro Dave McCall as they aim to bounce back from last week's loss to Currie in a mouthwatering match up against Ayr this afternoon in Premier A.

Scotland Sevens cap McCall will start on the left wing at the Greenyards with Joe Helps moving into the centre and Craig Jackson moving to the bench. Gary Elder returns to the second-row in place of Kiwi Hayden Mitchell with the former Jed man having shaken off injury.

Melrose coach Craig Chalmers said: "We are looking forward to the game against a powerful Ayr team. We were disappointed with the loss to Currie and only really had ourselves to blame for not winning it.

"My players know that we have to look after the ball much better this week and for longer periods if we are to get the desired result against an Ayr side who will feel they are right back in the hunt."

Ayr are given a lift of their own for the trip to the Borders with another Scotland Sevens cap, Jamie Hunter, heading north from his studies in London to play.

Coach Kenny Murray still has some injury doubts so has only named a squad, but as well as utility back Hunter influential back-row Glen Tippett also returns.

Murray said: "After a poor loss to Dundee HSFP in the first Premier A match I was delighted with the response against Hawks last week. The squad and management are well aware that an equally committed and dominant performance will be required at the Greenyards if we are to stay in the race."

In the other Premier A match this afternoon, between Dundee HSFP and Hawick at Mayfield, Canadian international Conor Wade comes in on the wing for the home side in place of James Fleming whose superb season has continued with selection for the Scotland Sevens squad heading for Dubai tomorrow.

Hawick have no pros available this week for the trip to Tayside, but the side led by Bruce McNeil has a solid look to it.

The Melrose match kicks off at noon and the Dundee HSFP game is at 1pm. In Premier B there are just two matches today with the Aberdeen Grammar-Selkirk match having fallen foul to the weather. Second-placed Edinburgh Accies travel to Stirling County while West of Scotland host Gala. Both Premier B matches start at noon.

• All three of last night's scheduled league matches fell victim to freezing conditions yesterday. In Premier A, Glasgow Hawks v Currie was called off in the morning, and the postponement of Peebles v Watsonians in Premier B was announced in the afternoon. Boroughmuir v Heriot's FP in Premier A was the last to go, in early evening.

PREMIER A TEAMS

Melrose: F Thomson; C Anderson, J Murray, J Helps, D McCall; S Wight, R Chrystie; N Little, W Mitchell, G Holborn, G Elder, R Miller, J Dalziel, G Dodds, B Runciman.Subs: G Innes, N Beavon, H Mitchell, S McCormick, C Jackson.

Ayr: from S Adair, G Sykes, G Reid, S Fenwick, G Tippett, D Kelly, D Stewart, J Crossan, R Colhoun, A Dunlop, S Nimmo, F Climo, R McCallum, AJ MacFarlane, C Taylor, R Curle, M Bennett, A Wilson, G Anderson, R Fergusson, J Hunter.

Dundee HSFP: J Urquhart; S Coleman, H Duthie, C Strachan, C Wade; R McKenna, A Dymock; N Dymock, S Forrest, A Brown, A Linton, R Hawkings, C Cumming, R Milne, D Levison. Subs: D Russell, S Cessford, R Cessford, R Gray, M Brown.

Hawick: N Renwick; C Robertson, G Hogg, G Johnstone, G Anderson; R Hutton, G Cottrell; R Sutherland, L Gibson, S Linton, C Charters, M Robertson, D Lowrie, B McNeil, D Landels. Subs: B Campbell, S Hogg, K Davies, N McTaggart, A Marsh.