Talking points from round two of the Tennent’s Premiership

It is a while since Hawick have been top of the league – but they are there now – and they will be planning to stick around. They grabbed GHA by the scruff of the neck straight from the off at Mansfield and had the bonus point in the bag well before half time – but then did nothing after the break. He has a long way to go – but teenage fly-half Bailey Donaldson has all the bits and pieces – and young Ryan Toogood stood his ground when called in as a last minute replacement for Shawn Muir who was injured (apparently seriously) during the warm-up. The big one against Currie Chieftains next week.

Hardly a vintage performance from Marr at Fullarton against Muselburgh – but ‘job done’, despite the difficult wind and a pernickety referee. They were strong up-front with Ewan Hamilton-Bulger to the fore – and their particularly effective driving line-outs produced four of their six tries.

A comfortable win for Currie Chieftains over Selkirk despite a horrendous penalty count. They had full control up front and Gregor Hunter pulled the strings with his customary aplomb. Converted winger Wallace Nelson playing on the flank was adjudged man-of-the-match – compensation perhaps for the ‘team’ yellow he picked up.

One step forward then two steps back was how Aberdeen Grammar coach Ali Connor saw his side’s disappointing result against Hawks after their encouraging win against Edinburgh Accies last week – though in fairness they were severely disrupted by first-half injuries to Callum Reddish, Robin Cessford and Greg Ryan. Whilst not much went their way, all three tries were scored by the multi-talented Nathan Brown. A long, challenging trip to Selkirk next week.

Edinburgh Accies dominated possession in the first half at Riverside but could only score two tries – and despite a Max Love hat-trick they almost blew it in when reduced to 14 men in what Iain Berthinussen described as a “crazy last quarter”. More work is still needed to acquaint recent recruits with their basic structures.

Rumours of Glasgow Hawks demise appear to have been greatly exaggerated – and they bounced back from their no show at Philiphaugh last week with a spirited and disciplined bonus-point win against Aberdeen Grammar at Balgray. Kiwi Sione Halafihi is under-size for a second row – but he punches well above his weight – and sets a mean bar for his compadres.

44-year old John Szkudo, and his near contemporaries Fraser Harkness and Donald Grieve – it was ‘Dad’s Army’ in the Jed-Forest dressing room on Saturday – yet they somehow managed to snatch two bonus points from their game against Edinburgh Accies – and with their injury list clearing they can look forward to Hawks visit next week with a degree of optimism.

It is hard going for GHA – Currie Chieftains last week, Hawick on Saturday and Marr next week. They were blown away by Hawick in the first half – but as with last week they did not give up the ghost and managed to keep the scoreline relatively respectable. Things will get easier.

Musselburgh were short handed for their trip to Fullarton and were always on the back foot – but they hung in gamely. It is going to be a tough old season – but nobody can question their spirit.