Premiership Dream Team – for 15th January 2021

Graeme Carson of Currie Chieftains is at loose-head prop. Image: Ian Gidney

CHARLIE BRETT was once again a threat from full-back for Currie Chieftains but he misses out on selection this week to Ryan Cottrell of Selkirk, who produced and accomplished display on his comeback after 18 weeks out with a dislocated shoulder, which included the Borderers’ opening try in a narrow defeat away to Marr.

Hamish Janes scored two tries on the right wing for Edinburgh Accies in their bonus-point win at GHA, while Jamie Forbes on the left was excellent again for Currie Chieftains, scoring one of his teams four tries in a 32-0 demolition of Glasgow Hawks, and collecting one early penalty to the corner above his head whilst jumping from off-pitch to on-pitch before clearing 40-yards down-field at a tight angle.

Competition at outside-centre was intense, with Joe Reynolds of Currie Chieftains and Robbie Kent of Edinburgh Accies both showing up well, but Jamie Shedden edges it as the focal point of Marr’s attack in their bonus-point win over Selkirk, which included a length-of-the-park effort which would have been a strong contender for try of the season if he had made it.

Schools/Youth Rugby: traditional powerhouses dominate Cup semi-final draws

Kenny Murray to coach Scotland Under-20s as part of new role at Murrayfield

Premiership leaderboard for weekending 16th January

Dom Buckley made a strong case for selection at inside centre before his red-carding as Jed imploded at Musselburgh, so the solid Matthew Stewart gets the nod again as part of a plucky Glasgow Hawks rearguard action against Currie Chieftains.

Gregor Hunter oozed class, as always, for Chieftains so once again is named at stand-off ahead of Colin Sturgeon of Marr and Jamie Loomes of Edinburgh Accies. Jamie Troup of Accies is at scrum-half.

Up front, Graeme Carson played the full 80 minutes and was a stand-out in an outstanding defensive performance for Currie Chieftains so is at loose-head, and he is joined in the front-row by Marr pair Blair Jardine at hooker and William Farquhar at tight-head. An honourable mention goes to 19-year-old loose-head Moray Haldane of Selkirk, whose introduction off the bench midway through the first half helped tighten up his team’s scrum against Marr, and who also showed up well around the park.

William Fleming made a huge contribution around the park and was a totemic figure at the line-out as Musselburgh put Jed-Forest to the sword at Stoneyhill, and his partner in the second-row is 20-year-old Hamish Ferguson, who controlled the Currie Chieftains line-out and was very physical. Glasgow Hawks pair Sione Halafihi and Jack McLean made strong cases but miss out on this occasion.

Jordan Lister of Musselburgh gets the nod at openside flanker, Walker Graham of GHA is at blindside and Ruairi Campbell is ahead of Lewis McNamara at No8.

15. Ryan Cottrell (Selkirk)

14. Hamish Janes (Edinburgh Accies)

13. Jamie Shedden (Marr)

12. Matthew Stewart (Glasgow Hawks)

11. Jamie Forbes (Currie Chieftains)

10. Gregor Hunter (Currie Chieftains)

9. Jamie Troup (Edinburgh Accies)

1. Graeme Carson (Currie Chieftains)

2. Blair Jardine (Marr)

3. William Farquhar (Marr)

4. William Fleming (Musselburgh)

5. Hamish Ferguson (Currie Chieftains)