Fight for the top

WITH a 22-20 win against rivals Whitecraigs, Cartha leapfrogged Falkirk to climb to second in the table.

Although the Dumbreck side are now ten points behind GHA, they have two games in hand.

Meanwhile, GHA continued their promotion push with a hard fought 21-17 win against Falkirk.

On Saturday, Whitecraigs face their second southside derby in two weeks when they travel to Braidholm to meet the league leaders.

It will be GHA’s final home game of the season and the side are just two wins away from gaining promotion to the national league – the second tier of Scottish rugby.

GHA Head Coach Gordon MacPherson said: “Whitecraigs had a close game last week against Cartha Queen’s Park and we know how good Cartha are.

“It will be a tough test and we will probably have to play a little bit better than we did on Saturday in terms of getting some cleaner ball, quicker ball and play to the pattern that we have been playing to.

“The league will probably come down to the last game of the season in a winner takes all which will be exciting if it gets to that stage.

“First and foremost we have to make sure we take care of our side of things. We have got one game to go before a grand final. That’s the way we are treating it.”

He continued: “It is a semi-final for us this weekend and then the final in a few weeks time. It is between Cartha and us to win the league so it is going to be exciting especially being local rivals.

“We won’t look beyond Whitecraigs because it would be premature and disrespectful if we started looking too far ahead.”

Meanwhile, Cartha will look to continue their league title push when they visit Ardrossan on Saturday.

Coach Gary Grant told The Extra: “It will be tough to overtake GHA. We have three tough games prior to the GHA game and we have to steer clear of injuries. They are able to rest prior to our game.

“We meed to take it one game at a time. The only thing for me is promotion, runner up means nothing. It has been two long hard years of rebuilding the club.

“Ardrossan will provide a tough challenge, they always do, we don’t have a great record against them and there will be a lot of nerves.

“We tarting to get players back from injuries and the boys know what they need to do. Whitecraigs are looking strong so maybe they can do us a turn.”