SHAWN MUIR was a giant in the scrum for Hawick in their victory over Currie Chieftains on Saturday, and also put in a mighty shift around the park, as evidence by his 15 carries and 12 tackles, which earns him the number one jersey – ahead of Ross Dunbar of Boroughmuir, who bagged two tries in his side’s comfortable win at home to Glasgow Hawks.
Russell Anderson scored two tries and was a huge influence in a dominant front five performance for Melrose, so is at hooker; and Struan Cessford of Heriot’s completes the front-row triumvirate.
A youthful second-row combination comprised of Scotland Under-20s contenders in Charlie Jupp of Heriot’s and Cammy Henderson of Stirling County, edges out strong claims for selection for Connor Young (a tight-head deputising in the engine-room) of Melrose, Ayr debutant Lars Morrice and Dalton Redpath of Hawick.
Drew Davison‘s textbook open-side performance for Hawick would on any other week earn him the number seven jersey, but on this occasion he loses out to double-try hero Jack McLean of Heriot’s, who made a phenomenal 34 tackles. Connor Boyle of Watsonians also made a string case for selection.
Davison’s Hawick colleagues, Bruce McNeil and Stuart Graham do, however, make the side at number eight and blindside flanker, respectively.
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Watsonians pushed Melrose all the way at the Greenyards and scrum-half Murray Scott was at the centre of everything, while Frazier Climo‘s Indian summer continues with another towering performance at stand-off for Ayr.
Jack Steele was up against his old club, and was back playing the position he had before moving from Glasgow Hawks to Boroughmuir during the summer, and earned himself the Dream Team’s number 12 jersey. With DJ Innes of Watsonians desperately unfortunate to miss ojut.
Steele’s midfield partner in crime on Saturday was Jordan Edmunds, and hewas named man-of-the match, but loses out to Melrose’s Patrick Anderson on this occasion.
A length of the field interception try for Cameron Gray demonstrated again that Edinburgh Accies might be struggling but they are still fighting and justifies his selection on the right wing, just ahead of Andrew Chalmers of Watsonians. Paddy Dewhirst scored two good tries for, including their dramatic injury-time winner, so is named on the left wing. Ross McMichael of Heriot’s ran straight and showed good vision from full-back.
15. Rory McMichael (Heriot’s)
14. Cameron Gray (Edinburgh Accies)
13. Patrick Anderson (Melrose)
12. Jack Steele (Boroughmuir)
11. Paddy Dewhirst (Ayr)
10. Frazier Climo (Ayr)
9. Murray Scott (Watsonians)
1. Shawn Muir (Hawick)
2. Russell Anderson (Melrose)
3. Struan Cessford (Heriot’s)
4. Charlie Jupp (Heriot’s)
5. Cammy Henderson (Stirling County)
6. Stuart Graham (Hawick)
7. Jack McLean (Heriot’s)
8. Bruce McNeill (Hawick)