Aberdeen Grammar number eight Tom Preece is looking to make amends for an early-season slip-up against Edinburgh Accies as they travel to the capital for the reverse fixture tomorrow.
The Rubislaw men lost out by a point in the home game in August but will head into this weekend’s fixture with renewed confidence after a spirited performance in last week’s 34-22 victory over Hawick.
Preece, who starred in last Saturday’s victory with two tries, believes the disappointment from the narrow defeat earlier on in the campaign can spur the side on to back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
He said: “The home game against Accies in August stands out as the one that got away and we’ll be doing our utmost to make sure that this isn’t the case on Saturday afternoon.
“We felt we did more than enough to win the game and the fact that we lost it by a single point made it even harder to take. We’ve managed to get ourselves going in the last couple of games and we’re playing some good rugby which will hopefully see us through to claim another important victory.”
Preece has been in impressive form for the Aberdeen side in what is his first season in Scottish club rugby, having arrived from New Zealand side Auckland Marist in the summer.
The 25-year-old Kiwi is joined by fellow countrymen Sean O’Connor, Jamie Metcalfe and Matthias Schosser in a changing room that he believes is beginning to reap the benefits of a blend of international and home-bred players.
He added: “I’ve settled into life in Aberdeen fairly easily as it’s a great club with a good bunch of lads who have made me feel very welcome from the off. Having fellow natives like Jamie, Sean and Matt in the team has, of course, helped me this season and it’s been great to be able to pass on some of our knowledge from New Zealand to the Scottish contingent.
“Similarly, learning more about the Scottish approach and the physicality of it has developed my own game and I look forward to continuing this as the season progresses.”
Head coach Kevin Wyness makes two changes to the squad that played against Hawick and welcomes back Stevie Aitken to his starting line-up for tomorrow’s visit to Raeburn Place. Sandy Warnock claims a place on the bench.
Wyness said: “After last week’s performance we know we must move up a level on the road.”