- Melrose showed flashes of brilliance against Heriots – but for much of the game they were content to chug along in second gear. They were ‘inaccurate’ (careless?) early doors and they appeared to lose focus towards the end. They are, however, very well organised – and whenever they did decide to hit the gas, their scorching pace, particularly that of Fraser Thomson, Sam Pecquer and Ali Miller, simply blew Heriots away. They scored six tries to claim a bonus point win – leaving the feeling that the Bill McLaren Shield might be at the Greenyards for quite a while.
- Ayr got their bonus point win at Mansfield – but it maybe did not come as easily as they might have expected.
- Currie Chieftains had to work hard through at Marr. The weather was not the best – and continuity was a problem – but they got there by concentrating on their set piece and playing the percentages.
- A talismanic debut from Glasgow pro Niko Matawalu galvanised Stirling County against Glasgow Hawks. Their tight game was good, their defence was solid and their discipline was fine. Overall – a satisfying sort of day for the Bridgehaugh men!
- Not a lot happened for Glasgow Hawks at Burnbrae – and their current peripatetic status cannot have helped – but they need to get their act together quick – Boroughmuir at Meggetland next week is crucial to maintaining their play-off aspirations.
- As Phil Smith acknowledged, Heriot’s were never winning against Melrose – but they hung in gamely for their four-try bonus. Their scrum was under pressure, their line-out was never totally secure, so they struggled to get onto the front foot and committed too many unforced errors – and they did not have an answer to Melrose’s smothering tactics in and around the contact zone. A hard day at the office!
- An exciting game at Myreside with a big result for Watsonians against Boroughmuir – not just in terms of local rivalries. They have recruited well and they are well coached. Bring on Ayr next week?
- Flattering to deceive against Hawick last week, Boroughmuir were two tries up but lost their way on Saturday . Peter Wright was not happy. “We need to be mentally stronger,” he said.