CHRIS HYDE has transferred his form for GHA in the Premiership last season into his first foray at Super Series level playing for Ayrshire Bulls, with his strong try and solid kicking in a big win at the Greenyards on Saturday earning him the nod for this week’s Dream Team ahead of promising youngster Matt Reid, who was a steady influence any full-back for Watsonians against Boroughmuir.
Contrasting but equally fine finishes from Aidan Cross of Southern Knights and Lewis Wells of Heriot’s earn that pair selection on the wing ahead of industrious George Barber of Heriot’s, Thomas Glendinning of Bulls and Joe Jenkins who finished off a fine try for Boroughmuir Bears, while two more consistently strong performers in George Pringle of Watsonians and Andy Stirrat of Ayrshire Bulls are named in midfield, meaning that Callum Barrett of Southern Knights and Scott Robeson of Boroughmuir Bears miss out on this occasion.
Bruce Houston loaded the bullets in a potent backline performance for Heriot’s so is named ahead of Jason Baggott of Watsonians (always an influential figure), Aminio Bogidrau of Bulls (kudos for a nice inside pass to create a fine try) and Gregor McNeish of Southern Knights (providing valuable game-management).
Scrum-half Fergus Johnston was the dominant player on the park, scoring two first half tries, as Ayrshire Bulls marched to victory over the Knights at the Greenyards, so he is named ahead of Sinjin Broad of Heriot’s and Eric Davey of Stirling Wolves in the No 9 jersey.
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Andrew Nimmo of Ayrshire Bulls retains the No 1 jersey, while Marius Tamosaitis wears No 3 after anchoring a strong Stirling Wolves set-piece for 52 minutes in their narrow defeat at Heriot’s. Hat-trick hero Jake Kerr of Watsonians was also pretty close to immaculate with the technical aspects of his position so is a stick-on at hooker.
Alfie Scopes of Watsonians and the galloping Rory Jackson of Ayrshire Bulls form the second-row.
Luis Ball was outstanding, particularly in the first half, as Watsonians got the better of their Colinton Road rivals Boroughmuir Bears, so he is at blind-side just ahead of Josh King, his opposite number on Saturday, with the evergreen Iain Wilson‘s two tries in a man-of-the-match performance for Heriot’s ensuring he is at opens-side.
Given how often he has been named at No 8 in this team, it seems remiss to not select Blair Macpherson on the occasion of his 50th appearance for the Bulls (he is the first player to reach that milestone in Super Series/6 having played in every game since the competition’s inception, with a remarkable 48 starts and only two appearances off the bench).
However, he is nudged to the side on this occasion by Ed Hadsell of Stirling Wolves, who provided impressive ballast to the Stirling Wolves back-row, scoring two tries and looking a worthy replacement for the dynamic but departed Benedict Grant.
15. Chris Hyde (Ayrshire Bulls)
14. Aidan Cross (Southern Knights)
13. George Pringle (Watsonians)
12. Andy Stirrat (Ayrshire Bulls)
11. Lewis Wells (Heriot’s)
10. Bruce Houston (Heriot’s)
9. Fergus Johnston (Ayrshire Bulls)
1. Andrew Nimmo (Ayrshire Bulls)
2. Jake Kerr (Watsonians)
3. Marius Tamosaitis (Stirling Wolves)
4. Alfie Scopes (Watsonians)
5. Rory Jackson (Ayrshire Bulls)
6. Luis Ball (Watsonians)
7. Iain Wilson (Heriot’s)
8. Ed Hasdell (Stirling Wolves)