TWO match points or more at Bridgehaugh on Saturday will clinch the National League One title for Biggar with Stirling Wolves standing in their way.
Last weekend’s win in the rain and snow at Hartreemill over second placed Heriot’s Blues means that the Edinburgh side can only reach 88 points maximum by the end of the campaign – so Biggar, currently on 87, want to get to 89 as quickly as possible.
If David Wilson’s men do not lift the trophy this weekend, they still have two more games to make sure of going up to the Premiership, but they will be impatient to get the job done.
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It will not be easy, though, against a Wolves side who pushed them hard earlier in the campaign before losing 31-15, and are desperate to get back into a groove after a disrupted February.
“We are looking forward to getting back playing, it’s been a frustrating couple of weeks for us with the weather and our games being cancelled,” said Wolves head coach Chris Faill. “We are in a good moment and want to keep that going. We know Biggar will be a hard test as they are now clear leaders and have been so consistent all season.
“However, our performance against them earlier in the season gives us belief going into the weekend. Defensively we need to match the power of their forwards and stop their threats out wide which we can do.
“I fully back my boys to cause Biggar problems and we then need to make sure we are clinical and take all our opportunities to get the result we want.”
Heriot’s know that only four bonus point wins from their four remaining games, and a big slip up by Biggar could see them finish top, but they will keep going until it is mathematically impossible.
This weekend Jamie Parker’s side make the trip to Myreside to take on their great city rivals Watsonians, who have only lost once at home in 2019-20.
Highland, five points ahead of Melrose, have five games left and will want to make sure of third spot. They are on the road to an already relegated Dundee High, knowing that the Taysiders may be down but are not after a win over Cartha Queens Park last time out.
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Cartha, in eighth, are away to fourth placed Melrose. In the reverse fixture in November, Cartha won 54-5, so you can imagine Melrose head coach Stuart Johnson will have his men fired up for this rematch at The Greenyards.
Fifth placed Gala head to Ayr, who are not yet fully safe from the spectre of relegation. “We are looking forward to this game,” said Ayr head coach Stuart Fenwick. “The lads have worked hard this past two weeks and we were disappointed not to get a game last week after the bad weather.
“We are looking to build momentum after a tight win against Cartha [on February 15] and we are really looking forward to getting back playing at Millbrae.”
Boroughmuir are in real danger of joining Dundee High in dropping out of the league at the end of this season. They are at home to ninth placed Kelso knowing that a win is a must. “After such a long time off, this will be a challenge for the players to perform at match pace again,” said Boroughmuir head coach Richard Sievwright. “We know Kelso are coming here after some good results recently and it will be interesting to see how we respond to their challenge.”
This weekend’s National League Division One fixtures (all 3pm) –
Ayr v Gala
Dundee High v Highland
Melrose v Cartha Queens Park
Stirling Wolves v Biggar
Watsonians v Heriot’s Blues
Boroughmuir v Kelso
How it stands –
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