​Stirling trip set to be play-off decider for rugby’s Southern Knights

​Losses for Stirling Wolves at Watsonians on Saturday and at home to Heriot’s the Wednesday before leave Southern Knights in possession of fourth place in rugby’s Fosroc Super Series Championship table ahead of their last two regular-season fixtures.
By Darin Hutson
Published 25th Oct 2023, 10:16 BST
Updated 25th Oct 2023, 10:17 BST
Southern Knights on the attack against Stirling Wolves at the Greenyards in Melrose in September (Photo: Douglas Hardie)Southern Knights on the attack against Stirling Wolves at the Greenyards in Melrose in September (Photo: Douglas Hardie)
Southern Knights on the attack against Stirling Wolves at the Greenyards in Melrose in September (Photo: Douglas Hardie)

​Those two defeats for Wolves – by 40-17 versus third-placed Watsonians and 47-14 against table-toppers Heriot’s – set up their home game against Knights tomorrow as a potential decider for that semi-final play-off place.

The Borderers go into that 7.35pm kick-off at Bridgehaugh Park on 25 points from ten fixtures, two ahead of fifth-placed Wolves, and head coach Alan Tait is hoping they can keep their noses in front of them ahead of their final matches of the regular season.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Those are at home at Melrose’s Greenyards to Heriot’s for his team on Friday, November 3, and away to second-bottom Boroughmuir Bears the day after for Wolves.

Looking ahead to this week’s game, Tait, 59, said: “It’ll be about whether I can find players to go up to Stirling but we’re up for it.

“Stirling have sort of crept into the top tier of teams in the championship now with the players they’ve been getting.

“They’ve picked up another couple of players until the end of the season from Jersey Reds. They’re picking up quality players at the same time as we’re losing boys to injuries.

“It’s going to be difficult but we’ll look forward to it. We’ve just got to go up there and put a performance in.”

Knights won the reverse fixture against Wolves by 27-19 at the start of September.

Related topics:WolvesBorderersAlan TaitMelrose