ANDREW GILLMAN of GHA gets the No9 jersey this week after controlling the game well and making some big tackles in his team’s sensational victory over Marr at Fullarton, with 18-year-old Callum Anderson of Selkirk his half-back partner following a fine kicking performance from hand and off the tee as Selkirk came back from 14-0 down to squeeze out a win in Aberdeen. Gary Munro of Jed-Forest and Freddie Roddick of Musselburgh are unfortunate to miss out in the competitive stand-off slot.
The Hawick pairing of Wiaan Griebenow and Andrew Mitchell are in the centre, with the former’s straight-running and all-round physicality creating the space for the latter to flourish. That means GHA’s Andrew Hughes – who was outstanding in defence against Conor Bickerstaff – is especially unlucky to not make the team this week, with Robbie Yourston of Jed and Neil Armstrong of Edinburgh Accies also strong contenders for selection.
It wasn’t a day for wingers, but James Ferguson of Musselburgh kept looking for work so gets the 14 jersey, while Rory Marshall has been an unsung hero of the Jed-Forest backline all season and showed up well again to claim the No 11 slot. Grant Mollison excelled at both full-back and in the centre (after Charlie Lonergan went off just before half-time) so is selected in the position where he started the match.
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In the pack, Luke Pettie of Selkirk and Sam Grahamslaw of Musselburgh made big impacts in their respective matches so it took a huge performance from Hawick’s Shawn Muir to keep them out of the loose-head slot. Fergus Scott led the resistance in a losing battle for Currie Chieftains at Mansfield Park to get the nod at hooker. Paulo Ferreira had a big match for Jed so is at tight-head.
Daniel Suddon seems to be coming of age as a Premiership player and was outstanding in the boiler-house for Hawick, and he is joined b Andy Kirkland of Glasgow Hawks.
Jamie Sole of Edinburgh Accies and Cameron Pryde of Musselburgh showed up well in the back-row for their respective teams, and got a try apiece, but the yellow-cards they picked up count against them. Instead, Adam Kerr, who was everywhere for GHA in their valiant defensive effort, and Max Outram, who snaffled three of Musselburgh’s four turnovers, are the flankers.
Aberdeen Grammar’s Greig Ryan was a shoo-in for No 8 at half-time of his team’s match against Selkirk on the basis of several momentum-shifting tackles, intelligent and powerful ball-carrying, and scoring his team’s first try – but he must take some share of the responsibility for a woefully flat third-quarter. Meanwhile, teenager Luke McCutcheon was immense throughout for GHA so commands selection at the back of the scrum.
15. Grant Mollison (GHA)
14. James Ferguson (Musselburgh)
13. Andrew Mitchell (Hawick)
12. Wiaan Griebenow (Hawick)
11. Rory Marshall (Jed-Forest)
10. Callum Anderson (Selkirk)
9. Andrew Gillman (GHA)
1. Shawn Muir (Hawick)
2. Fergus Scott (Currie Chieftains)
3. Paulo Ferreira (Jed-Forest)
4. Andy Kirkland (Glasgow Hawks)
5. Daniel Suddon (Hawick)
6. Adam Kerr (GHA)
7. Max Outram (Musselburgh)
8. Luke McCutcheon (GHA)
