It’s time to get voting for the McCrea Financial Services Player of the Month for October – the deadline is just over 24 hours away at 2pm on Thursday 3rd November. Here’s On Top Of The Moon’s guide to the players nominated for the award:
Mark Bennett – “Zeddmore”
Games played:
– Leicester (H)
– Munster (A)
– Treviso (H)
Minutes 180
Previous Warrior of the Month nominations: 2 – Oct 2014, Apr 2014
Key stat: 3 tries scored
Mark has really hit his stride after a delayed start to the season, scoring in each of the 3 games he played during October to take his total try tally for Glasgow to 17. His strike rate per game is only marginally behind that of Tommy Seymour and Mark is one of the Warriors’ key attacking threats every time he runs out on the pitch. He is consistently effective at beating defenders and getting over the gain line – only Leonardo Sarto can top his 12.5 metres per carry. On the downside, a full month back in Scotland has done nothing for his tan…
Jonny Gray – “Spengler”
Games played:
– Leicester (H)
– Munster (A)
– Treviso (H)
Minutes 236
Previous Warrior of the Month nominations: 12 – Sep 2016, Apr 2016, Jan 2016, Nov 2015, Jan 2015, Dec 2014, Apr 2014, Mar 2014, Feb 2014, Nov 2013, Oct 2013, Sep 2013
Previous Warrior of the Month wins: 3 – Jan 2016, Sep 2013, Nov 2013
Key stat: 9 lineout wins + 1 steal
Jonny has been a key figure at the lineout as both the caller and primary jumper. Barring a slight meltdown late on against Treviso the Glasgow setpiece ran at a 90% success rate in Jonny’s matches – and restricted their opponents to only recovering 78% of their own possession when throwing in, with Glasgow stealing the ball 10 times. Of course there were also the usual high standards we’ve come to expect from the younger Gray around the pitch in October – most carries in the tight 5, second highest number of tackles (none missed naturally). The squad will have a massive workrate to cover in the games he’s absent for while on Scotland duty.
Rory Hughes – “Venkman”
Games played:
– Leicester (H)
– Munster (A)
– Treviso (H)
Minutes 224
Previous Warrior of the Month nominations: First time nominee
Key stats: 166 metres gained with ball in hand v Treviso
All Rory’s stats from the match against the Italians were outstanding. Only once in the last 3+ seasons has a Glasgow player carried for more metres than Rozza did (Taqele Naiyaravoro made 231m against the ‘tackling optional’ Scarlets in the Champions Cup last season). He looked more than comfortable against Leicester too, showing up as one of the hardest working players on the pitch: he was heavily involved in the 3-try burst in the first half; and went from so very nearly being on the end of the try of the season to lung-bursting cover in defence during the second period. Plus who wouldn’t love a guy who reacts to the Scotstoun crowd like this:
“They just went mental and I loved it. So I just went mental as well!”
Ryan Wilson – “Stantz”
Games played:
– Zebre (A)
– Leicester (H)
– Munster (A)
– Treviso (H)
Minutes 294
Previous Warrior of the Month nominations: 6 – Jan 2016, Feb 2013, Jan 2013, Oct 2012, Mar 2012, Nov 2011
Key stat: 40 tackles made
Unfortunately it hasn’t been possible to collate the stat for most minutes played on one leg but Ryan would almost certainly have this category sewn up! Hammering home his Warrior credentials, Ryan has played through the pain barrier, picking himself up of the floor again and again and getting back in the line to make another hit; another carry; another clearout. He has been worked hard in the month of October with the back 5 of the Warriors’ pack decimated by injuries and has definitely earned his week off before potentially featuring for Scotland in the Autumn Test series.
Previous nominations and wins: OTOTM has tried to collate all the available information on Player of the Month, with nominations starting in the 2011/12 season and the inaugural award itself dating back to 2005/06 (it was an open vote in the first 6 seasons with all players eligible). There are a small number of months where the nominees or winners just don’t appear anywhere on the internet though. If anyone has a source that would allow the list to be completed OTOTM would be delighted to hear from you!
On Top Of The Moon 