Premiership dream team – for 6th November 2021

Try-scorer George Baird of GHA is selected at scrum-half. Image: Colin Robinson

MARK APPLESON is at full-back again. The rangy Hamish Janes was a real threat on the right wing for Accies, and did a good job of finishing a fine bonus-point try for the Raeburn Place men in their citron over Aberdeen Grammar; while brace for Gregor Tait of Musselburgh saw him extend his lead at the top of the try-scoring leaderboard and earn selection on the right wing.

Ben Pickles scored a good try for Selkirk in their Border stale-mate against Jed-Forest so is named ahead of the hard-hitting Brendan McGroarty and GHA’s Charlie Lonergan at outside centre. His midfield partner is DJ Innes, who may have got isolated a couple of time but was full of running for Currie Chieftains as they confirmed their status as top dogs with a hard-earned win over Hawick, so is selected in front of Tom Aplin of Aberdeen Grammar and Matthew Stewart of Glasgow Hawks.

There is, as always, plenty of competition at stand-off, but Marr’s Colin Sturgeon edges is ahead of classy performers Gregor Hunter of Currie Chieftains, Andrew Goudie of GHA and Jamie Loomes of Edinburgh Accies.

At scrum-half, George Baird scored a try and was a real spark for GHA in their big home win over Musselburgh, so is selected ahead of Gary Munro, who deserves kudos for his nerveless late conversion in blustery conditions which snatched that draw for Jed at Philiphaugh.

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Up front, Graeme Carson played all 80 minutes, made a big contribution in the loose including his team’s fourth try, and hung in there at scrum-time against Edinburgh academy prospect Dan Gamble, so is selected this week at loose-head. Hooker Gregor Hiddleston was a key component in a big forward effort which secured GHA’s win over Musselburgh. And Gary Strain registered some shuddering hits and scrummed hard for Glasgow Hawks at tight-head.

Harry Murray was a stand-out for Marr against Glasgow Hawks so links up with the hard-working and abrasive Shaun Fairbairn of Hawick in the second-row, meaning Callum Marshall of Selkirk, Jamie McCarthy of GHA, Rhys Davies of Chieftains, Gregor Law of Jed, Sione Halafihi of Glasgow Hawks and Rudi Brown of Hawick all miss out.

Jed-Forest’s Blake Roff is at blindside ahead of GHA’s Adam Kerr and Marr’s Mackenzie Pearce. Open-side was a really tough call, with Scott Plumridge of GHA, Matt Walker of Edinburgh Accies and Connor Sutherland of Hawick all making strong very strong cases, but Chieftains skipper Fergus Scott was a huge influence in his team’s victory, so he sneaks it.

Jae Linton scored a try, ran hard and tackled like a man possessed for Hawick so is at No8, ahead of opposite number Wallace Nelson, Ewan MacDougall of Selkirk and Corey Buchan of Aberdeen Grammar.