- Melrose avoided a possible banana skin at Malleny Park. Experience and the consequent composure under pressure won the day.
- Frazier Climo exuded class at Netherdale, but the top of the table is going to end up tight, and might very well be decided on points differential – so Ayr could come to regret losing the second half by 14 points to 21.
- Hawks were lethargic against Stirling and did not play well, yet won with a bonus point – which, as Finlay Gillies suggested, was not something that they would have expected to be able to do last season.
- Heriots went to Mansfield looking to put some daylight between themselves and Currie in the race for the fourth play off spot, but they were out-thought and out-fought, and singularly failed to capitalise on their physical advantages.
- Some poor decision making but another step up the learning curve for this young, potentially very good Currie side. The losing bonus point might come in very handy when it comes to the play off places.
- Great effort from Stirling County at Old Anniesland – but no cigar – not even a losing bonus point – though they at least expunged the 38-8 thumping they took from Hawks at the start of the season
- What has gone wrong at Myreside? Three consecutive bad results for Watsonians since their heroic victory over Ayr. Injuries should be a challenge – not an excuse.
- Well played Boroughmuir! Front five dominated the set piece .They focused on the basics with Chris Laidlaw orchestrating their game intelligently – and they had Jordan Edmonds on the wing! Flash in the pan or fresh dawn?
- Another anaemic start from Gala. Ayr had the bonus point in the bag within twenty minutes. The referee did not help with Gregor Hunter’s nonsensical yellow card – how many stand-offs know enough to deliberately bring down a driving maul? Encouraging signs of spirit and endeavour from the Maroons in the second half – which will need to be well nourished if they are to survive.
- Mark Twain was right: ‘It is not the size of the dog in the fight; it is the size of the fight in the dog.’ Hawick wrenched a crucial two points from Heriots. Still bottom of the table – but crunch time comes at home to Gala on 11th February – by which time Rory Hutton should be fully match fit.
Image courtesy: Douglas Hardie