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Dundee ready to face rivals at the bottom
Extract from The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition) - 8 Dec 2023 by Gary Heatly

Dundee Rugby head coach Alan Brown knows their National One bottom-of-the-table tussle with GHK tomorrow in Glasgow is a “massive game” for his charges.

The Mayfield men sit ninth in the table with three wins and 18 points to their name from 12 matches while GHK are 10th with two wins and a draw under their belts to give them 13 points from the same amount of games.

With one team going down in the new year both of these teams and the likes of Biggar just above them have a big couple of months ahead.

Dundee have lost their last five matches stretching back to late October while GHK have also lost five in a row since a 40-40 draw with Watsonians.

When the two sides met in Dundee on October 7, the home side managed to come out on top 24-16, but it was a tight affair and another is expected this time between two sets of players low on confidence.

Having been playing sevens in Dubai last weekend, Dundee are set to be boosted by the return of key trip Sean Gauld, the captain, Stuart Kirk and Andrew Denver for this one.

“This is a massive game for us, probably the biggest challenge up to now in the season because we really need the points to put some distance between ourselves and GHK,” Brown said.

“We can’t afford to lose this one or we will be in trouble, so the players know what is at stake and are focused.”

And, on Sunday, Dundee Valkyries will look to keep their women’s Caledonia Midlands/east One title hopes alive at home to Strathmore.