League leaders face second placed Falkirk in a crunch top of the table clash at Cala Park on Saturday.
Both sides know just one slip up could cost them promotion as the title chase nears its conclusion. GHA go into the game 10 points clear of Falkirk and will be hoping to gain revenge after losing 31-27 the last time the two teams met at Braidholm in October.
But GHA Head Coach Gordon MacPherson knows how big a test it will be against a team who were in a higher division last season. He said:
“It is going to be a tough game. They beat us at home earlier in the season. They are a second division team from last year so they have played at a slightly better level. They have a fairly experienced team and it is away at their ground. It will probably be one of the toughest games we will have played in a while. But we are looking forward to it. We are playing good rugby so we can take a lot of confidence from the last couple of weeks.”
Both sides go into the vital match refreshed. Falkirk’s match away to Whitecraigs was postponed. Meanwhile GHA had a rare week off ahead of a tough title run in which includes derby matches against Whitecraigs and fellow promotion chasers Cartha Queen’s Park. GHA Head Coach Gordon MacPherson feels the week off will have helped freshen the team up ahead of the title run in. He said:
“We don’t mind having the week off. I don’t think it does you any harm. We have still been working hard during the week and we have worked and planned for the Falkirk game.”
Match Preview:
Saturday’s top of the table clash will be the fourth ever competitive meeting between GHA and Falkirk, with Falkirk currently leading the series 2:1.
In their previous encounter this season, GHA outscored Falkirk by 5 tries to 3 but were narrowly defeated thanks to Falkirk’s superior record kicking at goal.
This weekend, GHA will have 8 survivor’s available from their only previous victory over Falkirk in January 2011. Matt Kidd, Ryan Jenkins, Donald Malcolm, Jamie Pinder, Jamie Auld, Andrew Gillman, Dominic Dunn and Rangi Jericevich all played in that win and all are fit and in the frame for Saturday’s clash.
GHA’s record against Falkirk – W: 1 D: 0 L: 2 F: 83 A: 91
Previous Results
06/10/2012 Scotland – Championship GHA 27 – Falkirk 31 – Video Highlights
29/01/2011 Scotland – Premiership Two GHA 47 – Falkirk 32 – Video Highlights
02/10/2010 Scotland – Premiership Two Falkirk 28 – GHA 9
Current Form (Last 5 games)
GHA – W W W W W
Falkirk – W L W W W
Current League Standings
P W D L F:A Diff Bonus Pts?
1. GHA 15 11 0 4 505:304 201 17 61
2. Falkirk 14 11 0 3 328:261 67 ?7 51
