AYR v Gala, at Millbrae on Saturday, was a glimpse of what the BT Premiership could and should be. In a hectic, invigorating 80-minutes, these two provided yet another clash of the Titans, to set the bar high when it comes to Scottish club rugby.
They will both be there or thereabouts come the distribution of the big prizes at the end of the season, and, rightly so.
Wee George Graham is an acquired taste; like not a few of his erstwhile Stirling County team mates, he tends to rub the Establishment up the wrong way, and has paid the price for this. But, while the Hamishes and Hectors might not enjoy having to listen to a former lance-corporal, what they cannot deny is: wee Geordie is a first-rate coach.
Once upon a time, Gala went too-far when it came to recruiting incomers, and the basic ethos of the Braw Lads threatened to be lost, but, today, more than some other Borders clubs, the Maroons are: "playin' fur the toon", and it shows. Theirs is pretty-much a Gala select and there is a lesson here for other Scottish clubs - both rugby and football. Give your home-grown talent its head and encourage it, it could pay-off.
Graham's methods are taken onto the field by his sons, George Junior, the captain, and Gary, the flanker who, with his newly-grown beard, looks increasingly - and plays like, Warrior Josh Strauss. One former Scotland flanker of yore was very impressed by young Graham on Saturday.
Gala scored four tries to Ayr's threes, but, the men from the Burns Country still managed to win. This was partly due to Ross Curle's greater accuracy from the kicking tee, but, not for the first time, to Ayr's defensive diligence.
They put their bodies on the line, none more-so than their smallest man, Craig Gossman, who paid a high price - a dislocated left elbow - for his bravery. Tha injury led, indirectly to a Gala try, a quickly-taken penalty leading to Grant Somerville going in on the wing Gossman should have been defending.
Allowing the penalty was, perhaps the single biggest of the several mistakes referee Neil Paterson made. Gala did nothing wrong, they took the chance, but, given he had earlier in the game, halted play for an injury, and would later do again when Opate Palepoi took a hard knock the the head - perhaps the referee should have allowed the clearly in-agony Gossman to be removed frorm the park sooner than he did.
Mr Patterson was also very remiss in not red-carding Chris Weir. OK, his first-half clash with Craig Gossman, catch-weight contest though it was, was nothing more than "handbags", however, when Weir did get in a left hook, in front of the referee, he had to go. But, no, the official bottled it.
One felt, with Finn Russell and Murray McConnell - who was released to come off the bench for Ayr - likely to be much-involved with Warriors this season, and Robbie Fergusson making a great fist of his cancer battle, Ayr might struggle in midfield this season.
However, David Armstrong, after a season in the second XV and his erstwhile second team half-back partner, Danny McCluskey, stepped-up to keep the Millbrae machine going forward well.
Blair McPherson, back after two season with Hillhead-Jordanhill, also shone for Ayr, while Robert McAlpine produced a performance which had one or two watchers thinking, maybe Alan Solomons is that rarity - a Saffer coach who cannot judge a tight forward's ability.
Ayr, however, do have an Achilles heel - they seem light in propping resources. They almost lost and their previous scrum dominance vanished after Fraser Watt went off. However, they did produce a driving maul which even had coach Callum Forrester amazed.
Glasgow Hawks, who scored a terrific win over Heriot's at Goldenacre, will offer Ayr a stern test at Balgray on Saturday. Aye, it has been a great start.
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