Hawick v Ayr preview

After last week's dramatic win over Gala, Ayr are heading back to the Borders tomorrow to take on Hawick in the final league game of the season.  This tie, postponed from earlier in the season, not only marks the last match for head coach Peter Laverie but also the debut of US Sevens star Carlin Isles on Scottish turf.

Laverie has spent five great years with Ayr, the penultimate one being the club's most successful ever and the last as head coach, so the players will surely want his final game in charge to be a win. 

It could be a memorable day with Isles, dubbed the 'fastest man in rugby', lining up on the wing for Ayr after his arrival in Scotland to join Glasgow Warriors a few weeks ago. 

"In a twist of fate, Carlin gets his first game for the club just as the world's fastest coach is leaving!" jests Laverie.

Joking aside, Laverie knows it will be a difficult task to take on Hawick on their home patch.

"Both sides will want to put on a decent show for the spectators to round off what has been a long, hard season.  The Hawick team will be buoyed by their excellent and important victory over Heriots last week to guarantee Premiership rugby next season and will be free to play without the pressure of league business."

He concludes: "I'd like to think we can finish our campaign off with some good, attractive, attacking rugby."

There should be attacking rugby aplenty with Isles on the left wing and last week's double try-scorer Kerr Gossman on the right.  Older brother Craig moves to full-back with captain Grant Anderson coming in at the centre in the place of an ill Robbie Fergusson. 

The quick and creative duo of Ross Curle and Peter Jericevich link up at half-back, as Finn Russell lines up at centre for Glasgow Warriors against the Ospreys tonight.

There is a dynamic bench, with recent Scotland under-20s caps James Malcolm and D'arcy Rae featuring alongside rangy Craig Brown and the two Murrays, McConnell and Beckwith.

Team:

15. Craig Gossman, 14. Kerr Gossman, 13. Grant Anderson (capt.), 12. Dean Kelbrick, 11. Carlin Isles; 10. Ross Curle, 9. Peter Jericevich; 1. Denford Mutamangira, 2. Fergus Scott, 3. Stuart Fenwick; 4. Callum Templeton, 5. Scott Sutherland; 6. Graham Fisken, 7. Andrew Dunlop; 8. Peter McCallum.

Replacements:

16. James Malcolm, 17. D'arcy Rae, 18. Craig Brown, 19. Murray McConnell, 20. Murray Beckwith.

Kick-off 3pm.