Promotion is in Kelso's hands

Currently sharing the division two leadership with Gala, although behind the Netherdale club on points difference, Kelso have the chance to make sure of promotion when they visit Rubislaw for their game against Aberdeen GSFP.

''It's up to us now,'' says former Scotland flanker John Jeffrey, who is assisting with coaching at Poynder Park.

''If we don't win promotion then we have only ourselves to blame.''

Jeffrey is aware that no assumptions can be made about coming away from Aberdeen with maximum points. ''Aberdeen beat Gala at Rubislaw,'' he noted.

However, there is little doubt that there is already a glow of satisfaction at Kelso. ''We've had a superb season. However we still have to be focused on the remaining league games,'' suggested Jeffrey, whose Kelso side will have to get used to being without their strong-running South African, Cose Albert, now returned to his native land.

Kelso will also be without prop Darren Howlett, who is on a ski-ing holiday in Europe, but even so, with players of the calibre of half-backs Graham Cowe and Graeme Aitchison, centre Kevin Utterson, and flanker Stewart Bennett, the Borderers should return from the Granite city as victors.

A potentially harder match awaits Gala, who face third-placed Kirkcaldy at Netherdale. Such has been Gala's revival this season, and their commitment to open rugby, that they have amassed an incredible twelve bonus points in their campaign thus far.

Gala should continue their winning run, but they also know only too well that opponents from north of the Forth can prove troublesome.

For neighbours Selkirk, it seems that promotion is out of reach, but they will have achieved their objective of consolidating their position in division two after elevating themselves at the end of last season.

Today, Selkirk are at Raeburn Place for what could be a hard game against an Edinburgh Academicals side that has managed to stage a recovery after a disastrous run before Christmas, albeit that a second-last finishing place seems unavoidable.

Elsewhere, Dundee HSFP are at home to bottom-placed Kilmarnock Falcons and Biggar and Musselburgh clash in a middle-of-the-table tie at Hartree Mill.

In division three, the top game is the match at Pennypit between the two front-runners, Preston Lodge FP and Peebles.

The game will be a rematch of the Tennent's Cup tie between the two sides last month, but Peebles, who lead the third division, will be hoping that it will not be the same result.

''Preston Lodge managed to beat us in what was a quality match,'' said Bob Hogarth, the director of rugby at Peebles, who is pleased with the way his side has risen to the challenge of returning to the second division.

''This has been a very good season for us up until the cup defeat by Preston Lodge. After that we lost to Grangemouth in the league.

''But we still believe that we can win the third division title. In past seasons when we've been promoted it has always been as runners-up.''

Peebles, who have a seven-point advantage over Preston Lodge, could still afford to lose today, provided they win their remaining two matches - a home game against Glasgow Southern and then an away fixture with Gordonians.

Chasing Preston Lodge, who have 46 championship points, are Berwick, on 43, and East Kilbride with 41, both still in the promotion frame.

Berwick are away to bottom-placed Glenrothes, while East Kilbride, who have a game in hand, face fourth-placed Grangemouth, another side with one outstanding game to play.

Meanwhile, Glasgow Southern entertain Gordonians at Braidholm while middle-of-the-table Ayr are at home to a Stewart's Melville side that palpably has lacked enough experience to guide its young talent, a problem which is not unique to the Inverleith club.