National Two: is this Scottish club rugby's most competitive league?

Hamilton Bulls want to build on last week's win versus Glasgow Accies. Image: Neil Mitchell

THERE are three scheduled matches in Tennent’s National League Division Two this weekend which are all important for different reasons, starting with GHK against Gordonians under lights at Old Anniesland this evening [Friday].

GHK are currently fourth in the division and know that a win is needed in this one to keep them in the mix for a top two (promotion) spot. Six days ago they were defeated by fellow promotion chasers Dumfries Saints in dramatic fashion, with a late penalty seeing the visitors win 13-10 at Old Anniesland, and as a result they will want to get on the front foot early in this encounter against a Gordonians side who are 11th in the table so fighting for survival.

When the sides last met in mid-November in Aberdeen, GHK ran out comfortable 50-12 winners. Ahead of the rematch, GHK skipper Cammy Hughes said: “We were bitterly disappointed after Saturday’s result, so we are really looking to bounce back. Gordonians have had some brilliant results on their day this season so we have to be at our best to get the result we want.”

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An early kick-off on Saturday sees bottom of the table Whitecraigs travelling to Laigh Bent to play Hamilton Bulls. The hosts are safe in eighth place and won 49-19 in the corresponding fixture back in October at West Lodge. They also defeated Glasgow Accies last time out while Whitecraigs were being thumped 69-5 by leaders Stewart’s Melville, so momentum is on their side.

However, Whitecraigs are fighting for their lives and do not have many chances left, so they will be giving it everything in this one.

“We have been preparing for the game, taking in the hard lessons we learnt against Stew Mel and analysing why our performance was not up to the task of containing them and making the most of our own opportunities,” said Whitecraigs head coach Ian Hamilton.

“We know how Hamilton will try and attack us and we have corrected our defensive structures accordingly. We want to continue to build our attacking play and look to make the correct decisions, especially in their half.”

Stew Mel are two points clear of Dumfries and Peebles at the summit and are going for their fifth league win on the spin when they host Newton Stewart. The Inverleith side’s head coach Jonny Else was very happy with the attitude of his players and their style of play last weekend and will want that to continue against Martin Wallace’s men.

Newton Stewart could leapfrog Kirkcaldy into fifth place with an away win and they come into this trip to Edinburgh on the back of a victory over Preston Lodge. When these two sides last met in September, Stew Mel won 12-0 at Bladoch Park.