Southern Knight’s backed-up their maiden Super6 win away to Boroughmuir Bears with an emphatic 46-27 home success against the same opposition in the rematch at The Greenyards yesterday.

Having managed just a solitary draw during the first five rounds of matches, the Borderers had been rooted to the foot of the table over Christmas, but things are looking much brighter now. This high-scoring victory puts them six points ahead of the Bears in fourth place, meaning that they are now well on the way to making the play-offs.

Winger Ciaran Whyte and hooker Fraser Renwick both scored doubles for the Knights, while loose-head prop Grant Shiells and Tom Galbraith also dotted down. Jason Baggott chipped in with 16 points via five conversions and a couple of penalties. The Bears picked up a bonus point from tries by Jordan Edmunds, Greg Cannie, Mesu Dolokotua and Cammy Gray, with teenage scrum-half Kyle McGhie scoring seven points.

“There’s a lot to be happy about over the last two weeks and the Christmas period when we went down to Newcastle,” said victorious head coach Rob Chrystie. “In today’s game I thought we attacked pretty well, although there were opportunities left out there. The pack showed pretty good dominance which is great for the next game [away to Ayrshire Bulls].”

Earlier in the weekend, Watsonians defeated nearest challengers Ayrshire Bulls 27-10 to stretch clear again at the top of the table, while third-place Heriot’s battled to a 16-15 win over basement boys Stirling County at Bridgehaugh.

Meanwhile, the result of the day in the Premiership was secured by Musselburgh, who climbed out of the league basement with an impressive 45-31 win over Jed-Forest. They are now one point ahead of both Glasgow Hawks and Edinburgh Accies. Marr, Currie Chieftains, Hawick and Aberdeen Grammar all picked up wins, and occupy the play-off places in that order.