It Would Be Difficult To Marr A Great Day LIke Yesterday

I SCORED the first of the very few tries I ever claimed at Marr, on those terrific Marr College playing fields. I lifted my first trophy at Fullarton Park, and, I had my good looks ruined there by genuinely-good rugby players such as the much-missed Broon, and Big Cubby (Bill Cuthbertson).

Kyle Hatherell on his way to one of Marr's tries in Alistair Mulhearn's picture from yesterday

So, I was delighted to be at Fullarton yesterday to see Marr post their first BT Premiership win, at the expense of a Heriot's XV, some of whom I feel certain, thought they only had to turn up to win. Aye Right. It was a deserved win too, as, totally out-played in the scrum, Marr demonstrated oodles more ambition and finesse in the loose, foraged like rabid jackals and completely knocked the Edinburgh side out of their stride.

You could cut the silence with a knife as Colin Sturgeon lined-up the match-winning penalty. That silence, and the roar when it went over, is what you might expect for Rory McIlroy sinking a tricky five-footer for the Open on the nearby 18th at Royal Troon Golf Club.

It was good too, to see so-many of the good old Marr boys, who enjoyed their rugby at a far-lower level – guys like John Sharkey, who did so-much for rugby at Marr College, David Haywood and the other Brown brother, big John, there on the touchline to enjoy the moment. Top referee Norman Sansom couldn't make it up from London – he's running-in a new knee, but, his brother was there, with one or two other far-travelled Marr College FPs – there to enjoy a great day.

And freelance photographer extraordinaire – Marr old boy Alistair Mulhearn, got some good pictures to sell-on. I borrowed the one at the top of this post without Alistair's permission – that's your “fine” for taking that compromising picture of my good self yesterday ya wee nyaff!!!

You looked at some of the Heriot's pack – the likes of Edinburgh prop Murray McCallum, big Adam Sinclair and Callum Marshall, and you see guys who take their rugby seriously, buffed, toned and clearly athletes. Sure, Marr too have guys like that, but, they also have one or two players who are built along more traditional lines – reflecting the club's rise from relatively-humble beginnings to the top level of the club game.

Their rise is an example of what ambition, drive and good management can do – welcome to the (relative) big time guys – enjoy the ride.

WE ARE just two rounds into the BT Premiership, and already some clubs I expect to occupy the top half of the final table are there. Melrose, Currie, Hawks and Ayr occupy four of the top five positions, with Stirling County perhaps the surprise side, after two wins from their opening two fixtures. Melrose will, again, be the side to aim for, and their trip to Millbrae on Saturday is already shaping-up to be one of the key clashes of the season.

 Brendan McGroarty prises the Bill McLaren Shield from the grasp of Billy McHarg on Saturday night.

Ayr are not used to losing to Hawks – and fair play to the Anniesland lads for finally getting the monkey of consecutive losses at Millbrae off their backs – so they will need to re-discover their collective mojo by Saturday, or we could be writing-up the crisis headlines. Heriot's too need a boost after two losses from two fixtures, so their visit to Glasgow Hawks, for Hawks' first defence of the Bill McLaren Shield, which they wrestled from Ayr's grasp on Saturday, is suddenly a game with a lot at stake.

Aye, as I will never tire of saying – the BT Premiership is a much-better competition than those people who think Scottish rugby begins and ends with the two pro sides probably realise. There are a few good sides in there.

GLASGOW'S bonus-point win over Ospreys on Saturday afternoon was just the boost the fans needed for the first home game of the new season. Dave Rennie has to be pleased with his work-in-progress. This winning habit is a good one to get into and Rennie will be looking for the run to go on when Glasgow play their first cross-conference game of the season, in Cardiff, on Saturday night.

Edinburgh too are in cross-conference action at Myreside on Friday night. Benetton gave Ulster a hard time this weekend, and, while Italian rugby teams do not travel as well as Italian wine, the chance to make it three from three is one we hope Edinburgh will take. Things are looking up at Myreside, so, it's time for Edinburgh to advance, rather than revert to what has become, sadly, a depressing tale of two steps forward, one back, in recent years.

TONY ADAIR, Ayr Academical and one-time Scotland Schools XV captain in the 1970s, now father and principal touchline supporter of Marr hooker, his son Stephen, asked me on Saturday, after the game: “Just how does this releasing professionals thing work?” I could not tell him. Because, the whole draft and player release protocols seem to me – and a lot of people, a total mess.

Marr hooker Stephen Adair - Ah ken his faither, unfortunately, but, Tony did ask a pertinent question on Saturday

There does not appear to be a system or rules that everyone can understand, and that work – it is all somehow, a bit too ad-hoc, made up on the back of a fag packet, or whatever. Suppose we will have to put up with it, this season and next, however, a lot of people are coming to the conclusion that if, as outlined in the draft Agenda 3 plans, the releasing of professionals to play in the club game ceases, it will be no bad thing. As Tony observed: “At least, if it stops, we will have a level playing field.”

I think a level playing field is just what most club men will want to see.