THREE tight matches on the opening weekend of the 2021 Super6 season meant there was a number of tight calls in The Offside Line’s team-of-the-week.
The always busy Jamie Forbes of Watsonians squeezes in ahead of Tom Brown of Boroughmuir Bears and Joe Jenkins of Southern Knights at full-back, while Jordan Edmunds’ strong running gets him the nod on the left wing, and Harvey Elms‘ involvement in both of Watsonians’ tries earns selection on the opposite touchline.
With 13 carries and some vigorous defence, Lewis Berg of Watsonians is exceptionally unlucky to miss out in the centre but the elusive running of Nyle Godsmark gets the Southern Knights man the nod on this occasion, and he partners up in the middle of the park with Grant Hughes, whose huge work-rate included 13 tackles and a fine try for Stirling County. An honourable mention is due to Craig Jackson of Southern Knights, who became increasingly influential as they chased the game in the second half.
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Lee Millar kicked six from six and was man-of-the-match for Watsonians as they picked up a clinical win on the road over the Bulls so gets handed the No 10 jersey, ahead of strong claims from opposite number Matt Minogue, Tom Pittman of Boroughmuir Bears, Jason Baggott of Southern Knights and the tidy Marcus Holden of Stirling County.
Kaleem Baretto‘s excellent man-of-the-match performance which helped Boroughmuir Bears to success over Heriot’s on Friday night earns him the No 9 shirt.
In the pack, 20-year-old George Breese had an impressive first appearance at Super6 level for Stirling County to gain selection at loose-head prop, Fraser Renwick is at hooker after he was man-of-the-match for Southern Knights in the same game, and Dan Winning of Boroughmuir Bears edges out the solid Angus Williams of Watsonians at tight-head.
Second-row was tough to call, but Callum Marshall‘s influence in the Heriot’s pack after they overcame their first half jitters gets him selected, and he partners the consistently solid James Head of Southern Knights in the engine-room.
Iain Wilson may have played most of the match at open-side for Heriot’s following an injury to Jack McLean, but he started at blindside and that is where he is selected for this team, just ahead of the busy Dalton Redpath of Southern Knights.
Former England 7s squad member Yaree Fantini was impressive at open-side for Ayrshire Bulls in their home loss to Watsonians, but misses out to Connor Gordon – younger brother of Glasgow Warriors man Tom – who made 19 tackles with no misses and also secured two jackal turnovers for Stirling County.
Iain Moody led a strong Southern Knights line-out performance (18 from 19) and showed up well round the park, so is unfortunate to miss out at No8 to the rumbustious Blair MacPherson of Ayrshire Bulls.
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15. Jamie Forbes (Watsonians)
14. Jordan Edmunds (Boroughmuir Bears)
13. Nyle Godsmark (Southern Knights)
12. Grant Hughes (Stirling County)
11. Harvey Elms (Watsonians)
10. Lee Millar (Watsonians)
9. Kaleem Baretto (Boroughmuir Bears)
1. George Breese (Stirling County)
2. Fraser Renwick (Southern Knights)
3. Dan Winning (Boroughmuir Bears)
4. James Head (Southern Knights)
5. Callum Marshall (Heriot’s)
6. Iain Wilson (Heriot’s)
7. Connor Gordon (Stirling County)
8. Blair MacPherson (Ayrshire Bulls)
John Hardie dips his toe into coaching at Stewart’s Melville