HAWICK are heavily represented after their big win over league leaders – although admittedly understrength – Melrose. Boroughmuir and Marr also have a few player selected in recognition of their do-or-die wins over Glasgow Hawks and Stirling County respectively – although, unfortunately for Marr, their excellent result still wasn’t quite enough to see them clear of the automatic drop.
Darcy Graham did a lot of carrying from full-back for Hawick, including a break from deep which created Allan Dell’s bonus-point clinching try, so he gets the number 15 jersey, and is joined by his team-mate in green Dom Buckley at inside centre.
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In the pack, Dalton Redpath and Stuart Graham battled their way into the team in the second-row and at open-side flanker respectively, Edinburgh pro Allan Dell scored two tries to claim the loose-head jersey, while 41-year-old Matt Landels came off the bench at tight-head to nail a conversion which marked the end of his long and distinguished career as a great club servant at Mansfield Park.
Hawick captain Bruce McNeil made a strong case for selection at number eight on the basis of his 28 carries, but Ben Johnston edges it on the basis of a phenomenal 19 tackles to go with his 14 carries. Similarly, Matt Carryer is unfortunate to lose out at hooker to Johnny Matthews, who put in a big shift for Boroughmuir in their emphatic win at Glasgow Hawks, despite having played in the Club XV match the night before,
Jordan Edmunds also played back-t0-back matches for the Club XV and Boroughmuir [a full 80 in both], and even finished off a length of the field try against Glasgow Hawks, so he is selected on the right wing position he played on Friday night.
Scott Bickerstaff of Marr is on the other wing, although Kerr Gossman of Stirling County made a good case for that slot in the team by expertly keeping tabs on Glasgow Warriors’ powerhouse Kiwi import Lelia Masaga.
Ewan MacGarvie is at outside centre. He is one of a handful of Stirling County players to show up well on Saturday, but as a team they came a distinct second to a Marr outfit in which the whole added up to more than the sum of its parts.
Boroughmuir provide the half-backs, with Chris Laidlaw having guided the ship excellently at stand-off in torrid conditions, while Sean Kennedy came on at half-tome and showed his class as one of those pro players who really buys into the environment when released down. And Aubrey Mncube is also selected after an outstanding performance at blindside flanker for the Meggetland men.
15. Darcy Graham (Hawick)
14. Jordan Edmunds (Boroughmuir)
13. Ewan MacGarvie (Stirling County)
12. Dom Buckley (Hawick)
11. Scott Bickerstaff (Marr)
10. Chris Laidlaw (Boroughmuir)
9. Sean Kennedy (Boroughmuir)
1. Allan Dell (Hawick)
2. Johnny Matthews (Boroughmuir)
3. Matt Landels (Hawick)
4. Dalton Redpath (Hawick)
5. Ross Miller (Marr)
6. Aubrey Mncube (Boroughmuir)
7. Stuart Graham (Hawick)
8. Ben Johnston (Marr)
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Well done Hawick and special congratulations to Matthew for his nomination at prop, not bad for a 41 year old