Tennent’s Premiership Dream Team – round 14

COMPETITION for the number one jersey was fierce, but Shawn Muir once again gets the nod – ahead of Grant Shiells of Melrose and Marin Bouab of Heriot’s –  after another huge shift in the wind, rain and mud at Mansfield Park  His opposite number on the day was Jack Stanley of Watsonians, who matched Muir almost blow for blow, so gets handed the number three jersey.

It is never easy joining a game as an early replacement, but Richard Ferguson battled bravely in a losing cause for Melrose after coming on as an eighth minute sub for the injured Russell Anderson, and he even got his name on the score-sheet, so is handed the number two jersey –  meaning former Glasgow Warriors pro and Scotland cap Pat MacArthur, who rolled back the years in the middle of the front-row for Ayr, misses out.

Alfie North did a lot of carrying to help Ayr get on the front foot against Melrose, and Charlie Jupp impressed once again for Heriot’s – so that pair populate the engine-room of the scrum.

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Ayr captain Pete McCallum showed that he is getting back towards his best after an injury-ravaged couple of months playing at open-side as his team returned to the top of the table with an emphatic win over Melrose. Iain Moody of Melrose nearly got the nod for the number eight jersey, but, ultimately, the recognition needs to go to his opposite number Blair Macpherson, who was part of an absolutely dominant forward display by the visitors, and David Corbenici, as the third musketeer in an excellent back-row performance, is desperately unlucky not to make the cut – with his spot on the blind-side going instead to Ross Graham, who made a huge impression for Watsonians back on his old Mansfield Park stomping ground, with 16 carries and 15 tackles.

Andrew Simmers of Heriot’s and Frazier Climo of Ayr pulled the strings expertly in impressive victories for their respective teams so are named at half-back. DJ Innes was a rock in the middle of the park for Watsonians in a dog fight at Mansfield Park, and his centre partner is the cool-headed and ever-reliable Ross Jones of Heriot’s.

Logan Trotter was dangerous on the wing for Stirling County, on a day when Eddie Pollock‘s men had very little to celebrate, while Kyle Rowe of Ayr is on the opposite touch-line, with Charlie Simpson named at full-back.

15. Charlie Simpson (Heriot’s)

14. Logan Totter (Stirling County)

13. Ross Jones (Heriot’s)

12. DJ Innes (Watsonians)

11. Kyle Rowe (Ayr)

10. Frazier Climo (Ayr)

9. Andrew Simmers (Heriot’s)

1. Shawn Muir (Hawick)

2. Richard Ferguson (Melrose)

3.  Jack Stanley (Watsonians)

4. Charlie Jupp (Heriot’s)

5. Alfie North (Ayr)

6. Ross Graham (Watsonians)

7. Pete McCallum (Ayr)

8.  Blair Macpherson (Ayr)

6 talking points from round 14 of the Tennent’s Premiership