TENNENT’S PREMIERSHIP: ROUND SEVEN REVIEW

The weather may have put paid to arguably the most intriguing game of the Tennent’s Premiership weekend – Currie Chieftains’ home match with Aberdeen Grammar fell foul of a waterlogged pitch – but there were plenty of talking points in the final round of fixtures before leagues break for cup ties next weekend.

At Philiphaugh, Selkirk impressed in a ten-try victory over the travelling Musselburgh, with Ryan Cottrell scoring a hat-trick and Josh Welsh crossing for a brace as part of the points deluge. Selkirk Head Coach Scott Wight, whose side move up to fourth in the Tennent’s Premiership standings, said: “Of course I’m pleased and I thought we were really clinical, playing some great rugby in the opening 20 minutes.

“To be 38-0 up at half time was great but it was slightly disappointing the way the second half went – we switched off for long periods at a time and fair play to Musselburgh to get a bonus point. From our side, I thought Scott McClymont was excellent at flanker and Lewis Martin at 12, getting his first start of the season, was also good. It was also great for me to see Josh MacKay (6) back fit after over a year out with knee problems.”

GHA won the tightest of contests at Braidholm, managing a one-point victory over Jed-Forest that saw them leapfrog their opponents into fifth place. GHA scrum-half Andrew Gillman: “After our disappointing loss away to Aberdeen last week it was great to get the five-point win. In the second half we should have really closed the game out, but we know the talent of the Jed outside backs and frustratingly gave them a little too much space to play with and let them back into the game. It was a great defensive set from the boys in the last play to hold them out after countless phases, but as always we’ll take away some real work-ons for when the league resumes in a few weeks.”

Edinburgh Accies travelled to Troon and grabbed a superb draw with the erstwhile runaway leaders Marr. Despite trailing 17-3 at the interval, the Raeburn Place men battled back to salvage things and walked away with a memorable 20-20 draw that upset the form books.

Visiting coach Andrew Easson was thrilled with more points being picked up on the road: “This result is a definite confidence booster. Jamie [Sole] was immense, the effort from everyone was fantastic, and if we could expand our opening and closing 20 minutes over a full game, we would fear nobody.”

At Mansfield Park, Hawick lost out to Glasgow Hawks 6-10, as a penalty try essentially proved the difference between two sides struggling for consistency after seven rounds. Ali Weir did kick two penalties for the home side, but Liam Brims’ long-range effort sealed a welcome away win for Hawks.

The Premiership now breaks until Saturday November 9, when all ten teams are scheduled to be in action.