Watsonians vs Ayrshire Bulls Prediction: Top table spots teams hoping to strengthen themselves

After a little hiatus, the Super Series Championship will get back underway with a matchup between the Watsonians and the Ayrshire Bulls on Friday night. The second half of the regular season will get underway with a match between the third-placed team in the rankings and the second-placed team in the standings at Myreside. Over the course of the past several years, these two teams have established themselves as fierce competitors. In the next section, I will examine the match in great detail, provide a critical analysis of it, and then discuss the various betting possibilities.

In the championship final from the previous year, the Ayrshire Watsonians prevailed over the Bulls in extra time to take the title. Then, on the opening weekend of this season, the Edinburgh team prevailed 11-3 at Millbrae to start off the season strong. Following a pair of disheartening defeats at the hands of Heriot's and Stirling Wolves, they enter this contest with their confidence buoyed after claiming victory in their most recent match against the Future XV. Lewis Berg will start at 12 for the host team in this match, taking the place of Findlay Thomson, who has represented Scotland at the under-20 level. Up front, Bobby Bratton makes the transition from tight-head to loose-head, and he is joined in the front row by Cal Davies and Gregor Scougall. Former age-grade captain Mak Wilson has returned from a head injury and joins the bench where Finn Duraj and Craig Davidson have been moved. Lee Millar, Campbell Wilson, Matt Reid, and Murdo McAndrew have all been added to the 4-4 split bench, with Millar expected to make his first appearance of the year.

The Ayrshire Bulls have not competed since the 2nd of September, but they are aware that a victory today would put them on top of the standings ahead of Heriots, at least until Saturday. The away side, on the other hand, had won their previous five matches in a row leading up to this contest. These victories were against Stirling County, Southern Knights, Heriots, and Boroughmuir, as well as FOSROC Future XV. Ollie Horne, a new player who has been in training with the Glasgow Warriors, is given his first start at full-back, while Luca Bardelli is moved to the wing position. Chris Hyde replaces Jamie Shedden on the other wing, while Jamie Shedden moves to the number 13 position to join Bobby Beattie in the middle of the field. The starting halfback combination consists of Reiss Cullen and Brad Roderick-Evans, and up front, Blair Macpherson, Ed Bloodworth, and Lewis McNamara are the only forwards who have been retained from the previous game's starting XV. Rory Jackson and Ryan Sweeney go into the second row, and Jamie Drummond, Grant Stewart, and Craig Miller make up the front row. In the back row, Ryan Sweeney and Rory Sweeney take their places.

Both teams have had the opportunity to relax and get their strength back thanks to the week off. After suffering defeats at the hands of Stirling Wolves and Heriots, Watsonians got back on the winning track with a victory against the Future XV in their most recent match. The inclusion of Lewis Berg in the starting lineup will be beneficial to their offense; nevertheless, they will be without their regular captain, Neil Irvine-Hess, as well as Seb Cecil from the back row. The Ayrshire Bulls have had three weeks to rest their key players, and they will be eager for payback for the loss they suffered on the first day of the season. Due to the fact that the last recent encounter between these two teams ended with few points, I do not anticipate any significant offensive performance here; as a result, I will be betting on few points.