- The Greenyards at its bucolic best – and a walk in the park for Melrose against a callow Glasgow Hawks outfit. “A step in the right direction,” was Robert Chrystie’s understated assessment to his team’s eight try romp – thinking ahead, no doubt, to what will be a much more challenging encounter with Watsonians next Saturday.
- A glorious afternoon at Goldenacre, a decent crowd and a marvellous advertisement for club rugby – with forward power and two penalty tries affording Heriots a hard earned victory over their time-honoured Watsonian rivals. Their authoritative pack impressed again and skipper Iain Wilson was into everything … again.
- With their clinical, and ultimately emphatic, win over Currie Chieftains, Ayr served notice that anybody who wants to lay claim to the Bill McLaren Shield is going to have a fight on their hands. Their new look side held firm against Chieftain’s initial heavy barrage and with their scrum dominant, they cranked up decisive control and played some smart, purposeful and accurate rugby.
- After repeatedly shooting themselves in the foot at Myreside last week, Stirling County took practically every chance that came their way against Edinburgh Accies and ran out fairly comfortable winners, with Craig Roberson looking particularly good at full back.
- No contest for Boroughmuir against Hawick at Meggetland.
- One that got away for Watsonians at Goldenacre. Discipline and game management will be high on the agenda at Myreside this week – with referee, Sam Grove-White, perhaps getting a few pelters in the process.
- A frustrating afternoon for Ben Cairns at Millbrae. Turning pressure into points was Currie Chieftains big problem – but maybe, on the day, they lacked the necessary hard mental edge.
- As against Ayr last week, Edinburgh Accies left themselves too much to do against Stirling at Bridgehaugh – and though they won the second half 21-14, they missed out on both the try and the losing bonus points. “Pressure is for tyres and bouncy castles,” says Derek O’Riordan. That philosophy will be more forcefully tested with every passing, winless week.
- It was always going to be a tough mission for Glasgow Hawks at The Greenyards, especially when the three pros they were designated earlier in the week became unavailable – but, despite the score, their early aggression and dogged persistence gave much succour to Finlay Gillies’ eternal optimism.
- An embarrassment for Hawick at Meggetland according to George Graham. It looks like being a long, hard season — and it begs the question – why did they not snaffle Rory Sutherland in the pro draft when they had the chance?