- Despite their absentees it was business as usual for Melrose at Meggetland. Always in command – useful experience for their fringe players – who is next?
- Ayr are next – and Melrose just might have a game on their hands if the first hour of yesterday’s game against Glasgow Hawks can be taken as indicative. ‘Relentless controlled brutality’ sounds good – but they will need that level of intensity for the full 80 minutes to get anything at the Greenyards.
- Heriots had too much gas for Marr. With no evident scars from their Cup misadventure against Edinburgh Accies, they were precise in attack and well organised in defence – and are beginning to look like a pretty good bet for one of the play-off spots.
- A poor show from Currie Chieftains at Myreside, with their continuity seriously compromised by a high error count and annoying lapses in discipline – and their defence was not too clever either! A bad day at the office – but they are still in the mix.
- Finlay Gillies must have felt that he had stepped in front of a bus during Glasgow Hawks’ first half ‘beasting’ from Ayr – but, in fairness to his young charges, they hung in there and kept the score respectable. Next week at Goldenacre will be an interesting challenge.
- Steve Lawrie is understandably keen to play down Watsonians’ prospects of a top four finish, mindful no doubt of the mauling they took from Melrose not so long ago – but Colin Renton was hugely impressed by their slick handling and clinical edge against Currie Chieftains – even when obliged by injuries to play the second half without a recognised hooker.
- Stirling County got it with both barrels at Mansfield – they just could not win any decent ball – and will now need to dig very deep to have any realistic chance of salvaging a place in the play-offs.
- Another fine effort by Boroughmuir against Melrose – but still no cigar – though, come the crunch, the try bonus might be very handy. It is tight – but a result against either Currie Chieftains or Stirling County before Christmas would brighten up the landscape dramatically.