FOSROC Super6 Championship Guide to the Game | Round 8

FOSROC Super6 Championship Guide to the Game | Round 8

Round 8 of the 2022 FOSROC Super6 Championship kicks off this weekend. Here’s our guide to the games ahead.

Friday 30 September: Boroughmuir Bears v Stirling Wolves

This Friday, Boroughmuir Bears welcome Stirling Wolves to Meggetland for the first instalment of Round 8 of the 2022 FOSROC Super6 Championship.

How to watch

All Friday games will be broadcasted live on free-to-watch channel FreeSports. FreeSports can be found on Sky HD channel 422, Virgin HD 553, TalkTalk 64, BT Vision channel 64, Samsung TV Plus and is also available on the FreeSports Player — www.freesportsplayer.tv. For those who live outside of the UK and Ireland, you can watch these games live on the Scottish Rugby website.

Be There

There’s nothing like being there. Find your tickets for the Meggetland match here: https://www.citizenticket.co.uk/events/boroughmuir…

Match Officials

Ref – Ruairidh Campbell
AR 1 – Samuel O’Neil
AR 2 – Calum Worsley

Comments from the Coaches:

Graham Shiel (Boroughmuir Bears) said:

“Seven personnel and three positional changes due to injuries and availability from last week’s starting XV for the Bears. It is like a revolving door with selection trying to keep players fit and accommodate opportunities for players coming into the squad at this stage of the season. Resources are again tight this week and due to this we must settle for a 6 (Forwards) 2 (Backs) split on the bench.”

“Mikey Jones made a great (& welcome) return to playing last week (after a spell out with injury) and great to have him back on the field in a Bears jersey starting at Loose Head this week. Callum McFeat Smith moves across to the Tight Head side of the scrum where he played part of our round 7 game. With some excellent impacts off the bench over the season (Sprint & Championship), 18-year-old Jerry Blyth Lafferty earns his first start in the Super6 Championship for the Bears.”

“Callum Atkinson and Jack Fisher again form the middle row partnership in the scrum. Another of our Boroughmuir 18-year-old’s Liam McConnell starts again this week after stepping in to replace Euan Ferrie at late notice last week, performing very well! Craig Keddie slips over to start this week at No. 8 captaining the squad and Scott McGinley returns to resume on the openside flank.”

“Ruairidh Swan and Jack Bergin continue to gel at half back and this week will pose a different challenge to them and how they play. Having returned successfully last week to play 80mins Duncan Munn remains in the centers, this week moving to 13 in place of the injured Ronan Kerr. Scott Robeson returns from injury starting at 12 accompanying Duncan.”

“All change in the Back 3 with Joe Jenkins returning to start on the left-wing, Tom Brown back after injury at 15 and 17-year-old ‘Braw Lad’ Kerr Johnstone making his first start for the Bears on the right-wing replacing Callum Ramm who drops out through injury.”

“Iain Carmichael starts from the bench this week and we will look for an impact when he enters the game. Brandon Sweet who came into the squad as an 11th hour replacement last week, Luca Alessandri and Marcus Goodwin who returns from injury will over the Loose and Tight Head sides of the scrum.”

“Trystan Andrews returns to the squad this week after a lengthy spell of injury and will be introduced from the bench along with Paul Bogie and who are covering the back five.Murray Johnstone covers scrum half and Adam Scott covers the backs this week.”

“Week 35 for Bears in 2022, but it is clear for the group to see that there have been overall improvements in our performances throughout the year which is very pleasing.”

“It was a slow start to proceedings last weekend, Bears giving Heriot’s a head start, but it was very pleasing that Bears found a solution to firstly claw their way back into the game and then to go ahead going into the last play of the game. With Heriots pushing hard, the outcome could easily have been different, but the performance would still have been the same and as always there was a huge number of positives to take from last weekend, but as ever, more than a few areas in which to find improvements!”

“Stirling Wolves were back to something like their best last week, and this will be another huge challenge for the Bears. Stirling Wolves will be a handful at Meggetland, but as has been the case in all our previous games, the players and management are seeking improvement individually and collectively to allow us to be competitive in our performance and whether win, lose or draw, the outcome will be what it will be.”

“There is a need for a bit of shuffling around this week within the squad, but the players are working hard each week, whatever the combinations to sharpen up on aspects of our game that we feel will make a difference. The proof will be whether we can perform as we would wish tomorrow evening.”

Ben Cairns (Stirling Wolves) said:

“A settled side after a much-improved performance last time out.”

“Duncan Weir is released by Glasgow Warriors and starts at 10 with Marcus Holden shifting out to 12 for the injured Alex Thom in an otherwise unchanged backline.”

“Murphy Walker is released to come in and start at tighthead with George Breese moving to the bench. Hamish Ferguson starts for the unreleased Max Williamson with Harris McLeod coming onto the bench.”

“A much-improved performance last time out against the league leaders saw us in the lead at 50 minutes. However, inaccuracies when we had momentum really cost us through the next 20 minutes of the match. Whilst we would have loved to have picked up our first W of the season, the boys took a lot out of the performance, and it’s been an energized group in training this week. The challenge now is to recreate that same feeling on the road against one of the form sides.”

“The Bears have been in excellent form through the Championship. They look like they are loving their rugby at the moment and have a really cohesive group who are desperate to fight for each other week in week out. “

“They are a side we have always struggled to produce our best again, but we know it’ll take our best to get our first win of the season.”

TEAM SELECTIONS

Saturday 1 October: Heriot’s Rugby v Ayrshire Bulls

After their narrow and nail-biting defeat last weekend, Heriot’s welcome Ayrshire Bulls to Goldenacre for their Round 8 run out (kick-off 1pm).

How to watch

Watch this game live on the Scottish Rugby website, BBC Sport website and BBC iPlayer.

Be There

There’s still time to grab your tickets to watch Heriot’s and Ayrshire Bulls go head-to-head at Goldenacre! Find your tickets here: https://www.citizenticket.co.uk/events/heriot-s-ru…

Match Officials

Ref – Finlay Brown
AR 1 – Ross Mabon
AR 2 – Bob Nevins

Comments from the Coaches:

Fin Gillies (Heriot’s Rugby) said:

“The starting forward pack remains unchanged from the pack that took on Boroughmuir Bears last week. On the bench, we welcome 3 players who join us through the emergency loan system in Super6 to cover injured players. Thank you to Stirling Wolves who have loaned us Cameron McMillan to cover loosehead prop and Callum Cruickshank to cover the back five of the scrum. Watsonians Rugby have also been kind enough to loan us Michael Badenhorst to help ease our woes in the backrow. Elliot Young and Euan McLaren will look to make an impact from the bench at hooker and tighthead respectively.”

“There is a whole host of changes to the backline this week. Murdo McAndrew returns from a concussion and starts at scrum-half, he will partner Bruce Houston who will continue to captain the team from stand-off. We have a new centre partnership this week with Kyle Browne and Matt Davidson. Matt moves to full-back this week. Jake Henry has been released from Edinburgh and will start on the wing alongside Nyle Godsmark.”

“Jed Gelderbloom, Sam Pecqueur and Dan King all drop to the bench this week to complete the match day 23.”

“A lack of discipline and maturity at key points of the game against Boroughmuir saw us throw away a 17-0 lead. This was particularly disappointing when we feel for large parts of the game we attacked and defended quite well. We are gunning for a battle and we need to make sure we don’t give the game away, as we have done before. We know we are good enough to beat any team in this league – We now need to prove it.”

“Ayrshire Bulls are a team brimming with confidence, they are physical, well organised and ruthless when they enter your gold zone. We know we cannot allow Bulls any cheap entries into our 22 because they are particularly clinical in that final third of the pitch.”

“The pro draft has been kind to them this week but we are excited to welcome them to Goldenacre and we hope to see a more disciplined and mature performance this week.”

Pat McArthur (Ayrshire Bulls) said:

“We are building a strong squad which allows us to rotate and create competition for places which is seen in our selection. We welcome back two formers Ayrshire bulls in Ross Thomson and Olli Smith to our squad for this weeks game.”

“A game against Heriot’s at Goldenacre is always a big challenge which the players are looking forward to. We continue to work hard at training to try and challenge our players skills, mental strength and style of play. All at the club are very aware that we will require to be at our best to challenge Heriots at home in an important game to our season.”

TEAM SELECTIONS

Saturday 1 October: Watsonians v Southern Knights

Southern Knights make the journey to Myreside to take on table leaders Watsonians on Saturday evening (kick-off 5pm).

How to watch

Watch this game live on the Scottish Rugby website, BBC Sport website and BBC iPlayer.

Be There

Get down to Myreside to watch Watsonians host Southern Knights in person! Get your tickets here: https://www.citizenticket.co.uk/events/watsonian-f…

Match Officials

Ref – Jonny Perriam
AR 1 – Ian Kenny
AR 2 – Alistair Watt

Comments from the Coaches:

Fraser Pringle (Watsonians) said:

“There are 4 changes to the backs. Roan Frostwick gets his first start of the competition at 9 with Rory Brand moving to the bench. Joe Reynolds starts at 12 with Angus Guthrie moving to 13. Ryan Daley starts on the wing. Connor Eastgate and Lewis Berg drop out of the squad. Jason Baggott returns from injury on the bench and Ross McKnight is in line to make his debut from the bench.”

“In the forwards, we have 2 changes with Neil Irvine-Hess replacing Ben Muncaster at 8 and Karl Main replacing Seb Cecil who moves to the bench. Harrison Courtney returns on the bench with Bobby Bratton dropping out of the squad.”

“We return to Myreside this week for round 8 of the FOSROC Super 6 Championship. The Knights are always a tough opposition and have some experienced players in key positions alongside a number of talented young academy players. Our preparation this week has focused on executing our basics well under pressure, and we’ll need to do that against the Knights to put in a strong performance. We haven’t played many games at Myreside this season and really want to make it count when we do.”

Bruce Ruthven (Southern Knights) said:

“Keiran Clark, Aidan Cross and Ben Pickles form the back three of the team. Stage 3 player Finn Douglas has had to withdraw due to a hamstring injury. A midfield partnership of Korie Winters, Mitchell Richardson and Douglas Crawford start for the knights after injuries to Robbie Chalmers, Paddy Anderson and Cammy Scott. Kyle Mcghie reverts to the scrumhalf position.”

“Rudi Brown starts at No8 with flankers Wallace Nelson and Sam Derrick. The second row sees the familiar frame of Jamie Campbell alongside Alan Ferrie. Brace, and Shiels start as props with Stage 3 player Harri Morris making his first start at hooker.”

“Front row replacements see Russell Anderson and Fraser Renwick start from the bench with Mike Mbaud and Robbie Deans as prop cover. Jordan Miller and Erem Demirel will hope to make big contributions from the bench. Harris Rutherford and David Colvine complete a 6/2 split for the substitutions.”

“The players are under no illusions on the task ahead at Myreside but are looking forward to the challenge this weekend. We know that we will need to improve on last weeks performance against the Bulls if we’re going to have a chance on Saturday. Watsonians will be hot favourites and possess some of the competitions best players whilst having additional pro draft players available, so we know what were up against.”

“Once again, we have a host of Stage 2 & 3 players representing the Knights who will be looking to test themselves against the best in the Championship. The learning that these players are experiencing is great to see and they will be better for it.”

TEAM SELECTIONS

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