Big day for rugby

It’s a top of the table clash at Cala Park involving GHA, and at West Lodge there’s a local derby.

To top it all, Scotland’s most capped international Chris Patterson will be at Whitecraigs rugby club with the six nations trophy.

GHA have a chance to exert themselves even further in their campaign for a league title victory if they can defeat second placed Falkirk.

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 when the two teams met in the reverse fixture 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 will 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.”

In further Premier three action, there will be no love lost between local rivals Whitecraigs and Cartha.

With a physical encounter a certainty, Cartha will look to continue their push towards the top of the table while Whitecraigs search for consolation in what has been an uncharacteristically patchy season due to a near insurmountable injury list.

Elsewhere, the West regional cup came to its conclusion last Saturday, when former GHA and Hutchesons’ grammar school back row Calum Forrester captained Ayr to a 15-10 win against Hawks at old Anniesland.