All three Marr Rugby senior XV's are in action on Saturday. The 1s are at home and welcome Selkirk while the 2s travel to Fort Matilda to play Greenock. The 3s were due to play Waysiders/Drumpellier 2s but WD were unable to raise a team and instead our troops are now on the road to play Cumnock 2s in a friendly.

Marr Rugby v Selkirk – preview (Match Sponsor –McLennan Adam Davis): Selkirk were the last side to beat Marr Rugby’s 1st XV at home in a league match. This was two years ago in the season they achieved an unbeaten run to comfortably win the league and promotion to the Premiership. They found life in the top tier heavy going and not suited to their style of open and expansive rugby. Slipping back to BT NL1 they are re-grouping and currently sit mid table. Key players in the forwards to watch out for include prop Lwando Mabenge and lock Peter Forrest while in the backs the play maker is stand-off Ciaran Whyte and scoring machine is fullback Darren Clapperton.

Marr's squad includes a couple of changes from last week’s successful visit to Rubislaw. Having successfully recovered from injury and following two good performances for the 2nd XV Fraser Grant gets a first starting place in the second row partnering Kris Kirk. This allows Angus Johnston to switch to the back row in place of Kyle Vallance who is unavailable. In the back line Gregor Paxton returns following injury, Colin Sturgeon starts at stand-off and Craig Kolarik covers full back. Marr listing of AN Other will be updated following fitness assessment on Saturday.

As Selkirk’s style of open and expansive play matches Marr’s we anticipate another close contest with both sides having to ensure that their defensive work is tight and precise to prevent the latent attacking threats. Marr’s home advantage and support from the touchline may provide the edge so make sure you are on the touchline to see what is expected to be another great advert for club rugby.

Marr Rugby 1st XV
15 Craig Kolarik
14 Scott Bickerstaff
13 Gregor Paxton
12 Conor Bickerstaff
11 Tom Steven
10 Colin Sturgeon
9 Grant Baird
1 Andrew Acton
2 Stephen Adair
3 Andy Kelly
4 Fraser Grant
5 Kris Kirk
6 Mackenzie Pearce
7 Angus Johnston (C)
8 Ben Johnston

Replacements
16 Chris Nisbet
17 Ollie Rossi
18 AN Other
19 Rory McGee
20 Stuart Howie

Marr Rugby 2nd XV v Greenock Wanderers RFC 2nd XV– preview: Marr’s 2nd XV have a great opportunity to continue their successful run albeit facing the prospect of a potential tricky tie away against mid-table Greenock who hold an impressive home record they won’t want to see diluted.

With a good number of senior players available for selection either returning from injury or free from work or other commitments the 2s coaching team faced a selection headache and sees one of the strongest 2s squads to date. Gregor Ness starts at scrum-half allowing Rudi Marshall to return to his favoured position at full-back. Murray Beckwith returns to partner Andrew Mill at centre. The back line changes should give Marr a very strong attacking force. In the forwards Fraser (Rhino) Ferguson is clear of work commitments and is a welcome addition to the front row where he will play alongside Neil Wallace who returns following another week with the 1st XV. Craig Baird recovers from injury and returns to the second row where he will partner Gordon Hill. After playing last week for the 1s Josh Evans returns to Marr’s back row will resume captaincy and his potent attacking partnership with Callum Steel and Danny Clark.

Marr Rugby’s 2nd XV have got off to a great start of the season. The importance of ensuring they remain focussed is a point that coach Keith Dunsmuir will re-inforce in his pre-match message.

Marr Rugby 2nd XV
15 Rudi Marshall
14 Ryan Miller
13 Murray Beckwith
12 Andrew Mill
11 Ry Mcinnes
10 Jack Scott
9 Gregor Ness
1 Neil Wallace
2 Richard McNicol
3 Fraser Ferguson
4 Gordon Hill
5 Craig Baird
6 Danny Clark
7 Callum Steel
8 Josh Evans (C)

Replacements
16 Danny McCulloch
17 Mark Allison
18 Frank McGerty
19 Matt Skeoch
20 Ali Walker
21 Grant Clark
22 Findlay Hazel

Marr Rugby 3rd XV v Cumnock 2nd XV– preview: After weeks of frustration with matches cancelled as opposition sides struggle to fulfil league fixtures including the scheduled match against Waysiders/Drumpellier 2nd XV, Marr Rugby’s 3s finally get some game time albeit a ‘friendly’. They face a stiff test playing against higher league opposition when they travel to Cumnock.

Credit is due to this squad of players who are keen to continue to enjoy playing rugby and fly the flag for Marr Rugby. Although they may be seen as a ‘social’ side we think more that they are just very sociable and are very much part of the purple and gold journey.

Marr Rugby 3rd XV
15 Gareth Abbott
14 Shaun Dorward
13 Don Morrison
12 Ryan Kirk
11 Dan Lynch
10 Andrew Mathieson ©
9 John Hamilton
1 Paul Bray
2 Grahame Currie
3 Neil Campion
4 Malcolm McGregor
5 Alistair Barclay
6 John Calder
7 Steve Aitken
8 Chris Myers

Replacements
16 Kevin McGonigle