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HIGH-FLYING MARR OUTMUSCLE SELKIRK IN FINAL
STAGES OF A TIGHT GAME
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No way through for skipper
Ewan MacDougall, as Selkirk team-mate Michael Waldron arrives to lend support.
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That’s a wrap! Scrum-half
Luca Merolle battles hard.
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Centre Callum Anderson
finds space to break clear.
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[Photos by GRANT KINGHORN PICS]
Marr 38, Selkirk 13
SELKIRK made a valiant bid to end Marr’s unbeaten
Tennent’s Premiership record at Fullarton Park on Saturday, but a three-try burst in the final quarter of the game
saw the home team consolidate their position at the top of the league.
The Souters remained in contention right up until the hour-mark, when home prop Calvin Henderson was shown a yellow
card, allowing Aaron McColm to step up and kick his second penalty of the match.
However, being reduced to 14 men appeared to spur Marr’s players to even greater heights, with home skipper Conor
Bickerstaff leading the charge by sprinting over for a score, followed in quick succession by tries from Ollie
Rossi and Jamie Drummond.
In an evenly contested first half, Selkirk’s points came from a try by Josh Welsh, converted by McColm, who also
landed a penalty. Tries by Richard Dalgleish and Fraser Grant (the latter converted by Colin Sturgeon), put Marr
12-10 ahead at the break.
The visitors’ cause wasn’t helped when lock forward Andy Mackay was forced to retire after sustaining a nasty head
knock, with wing Luca Berte limping to the sidelines soon afterwards nursing an ankle injury.
Not for the first time this season, Selkirk’s stand-out player at Fullarton Park on Saturday was openside flanker
Scott McClymont. The 24-year-old Yarrow farmer’s rock-solid defensive work and tireless support play helped lift
his team at crucial points in the contest.
After the final whistle, Selkirk head coach Scott Wight said his players could take a lot of positives from the
game, while acknowledging the strength of Marr’s game. “They’ve got pace and physicality, and it’s going to take
someone to play really well to beat them.
“That said, there’s still a long way to go, and with the league’s top four clubs playing off against each other
at the end of the campaign, there’s always the chance of an upset.
“Our boys stuck in really well today, and for the majority of the match were in the frame. Ultimately the difference
between the two sides was Marr’s ability to turn pressure into points – something we didn’t do often enough when
we worked our way into promising positions.
“This Saturday’s home game against Musselburgh is huge for us. The players know they’re going to have to work extra
hard at training this week to make sure we’re as well prepared for the match as we possibly can be.”
MARR – G. Montgomery, R. Dalgleish, G. Paxton, C. Bickerstaff, I. Turaga, C. Sturgeon, J. Preston, B. Sweet, O.
Rossi, C. Henderson, E. Hamilton-Bulger, F. Grant, M. Pearce, R. Brown, B. Grant. Replacements: J. Drummond, W.
Farquhar, J. Harvey, C. Cunningham, G. Ness.
SELKIRK – H. Bithray, R. Cottrell, J. Welsh, C. Anderson, L. Berte, Aaron McColm, L. Merolle, L. Pettie, J. Bett,
B. Riddell, P. Forrest, A. Mackay, S. McClymont, D. Nichol, E. MacDougall. Replacements: M. Waldron, L. Martin,
Andrew McColm, S. Rankin, D. Alexander.
SELKIRK ‘A’ GO TOP AFTER OUTSTANDING
WIN OVER STEWART’S/MELVILLE 2nds
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The Selkirk ‘A’ side
line up for a photo after Saturday’s fine victory. Back row, from left – K. Thomson, M. Haldane, L. Blair, P. Smail,
M. Davies, R. Hamilton, J. Mackay, J. Turnbull, N. Armstrong, J. Griffin, H. Aynsley. Front – M. Mackay, M. Rutter,
A. Davidson, M. Francis, R. Cook, D. Cassidy.
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Hooker Matty Francis
sets off on another run.
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Scrum-half Mikey Davies
fires out the ball to his backs.
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Skipper Robert Cook
co-ordinates Selkirk’s try line siege.
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Coach Darren Hoggan
gets his point across at halftime.
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[PHOTOS BY JOHN SMAIL]
Stewart’s/Melville 2nds 7, Selkirk ‘A’ 22
HIT by late call-ups to the 1st XV, Selkirk ‘A’s
depleted squad dug extra deep at Inverleith on Saturday to pull off a mightily impressive victory over a bigger,
more experienced Stewart’s/Melville 2nds side.
The win takes Selkirk to the top of Tennent’s East Reserve League Division 1 for the first time this season, setting
up a crunch clash this Saturday at Philiphaugh against Musselburgh 2nds – the team they’ve knocked from the number
one spot.
Colleges went ahead in the 8th minute with a try by fly-half Gavin Tainsh, which he also converted, but a blistering
65-metre break by Jy Griffin from a blindside interception saw the Selkirk centre touch down in the corner.
Two of Selkirk key men were half-backs Mikey Davies and Rory Hamilton, both of whom were making their first appearances
of the season. An equally big impact was made by debutant teenage prop Moray Haldane, whose powerful scrummaging
swung the set piece decisively in Selkirk’s favour.
After the break Selkirk went 8-7 ahead from a David Cassidy penalty, before Griffin sprinted over for his second
try after good lead-up work by Kieran Thomson and Jamie Turnbull. Cassidy’s conversion made it 15-7 to the visitors.
With the back row of Josh Mackay, Andrew Davidson and Robert Cook putting in a power of work, Selkirk were rarely
out of the Stewart’s/Melville half throughout the second period.
The result was finally put beyond doubt when wing Mark Rutter burst through the home defences on the stand side
to score Selkirk’s third try, with Cassidy bringing out full points to set the seal on a famous victory.
“That has to be one of the best wins of my career as a coach,” Selkirk’s Darren Hoggan said after the match. “We
fronted up, the players got stuck in, and what’s especially pleasing is seeing a 17-year-old prop come on and dominate
a scrum.
“Now we’ve set our standard on the field, we should be looking to get better. A number of players are due to come
back in the coming weeks, so there’s going to be a lot of competition for places, and this has to be a good thing
for any team.”
STEWART’S/MELVILLE 2nds – M. Leckie, C. Lamb, N. Armstrong, M. Hanning, C. Davidson, G. Tainsh, T. Milne, O. Williamson,
G. Macgregor, S. Spowart, A. Scott, A. Middleton, C. Smith, A. Wainwright, D. Devlin. Replacements: G. Henderson,
J. Thomson, J. Robertson, T. Keddari, R. Wilson, D. Calder, A. Jess.
SELKIRK ‘A’ – D. Cassidy, N. Armstrong, J. Griffin, , H. Aynsley, M. Rutter, L. Blair, M. Francis, K. Thomson,
J. Turnbull, M. Mackay, R. Cook, A. Davidson, J. Mackay. Replacements: M. Haldane, P. Smail.
Referee – Paul McVeigh (Edinburgh).
DOUBLE DELIGHT AS LOCHCARRON
OF SCOTLAND AGREES TO SPONSOR SELKIRK PLAYERS
Lochcarron sales associate
Keith Russell (left) and weaving technician Hughie MacDonald (far right) pictured with Lewis Martin and Kieran
Thomson.
SELKIRK ‘A’ team-mates Kieran Thomson and Lewis
Martin had every reason to smile last week after local firm Lochcarron of Scotland kindly agreed to support them
with player sponsorships for the 2019-2020 season.
Joining the duo at a special promotional photo were Lochcarron of Scotland’s sales associate Keith Russell and
the company’s weaving technician Hughie MacDonald – themselves both former Selkirk Rugby Club players.
Kieran and Lewis are currently undertaking modern apprenticeships in dyeing and warping at Lochcarron of Scotland’s
Dunsdale Road mill. Lochcarron is proud to be the world’s leading manufacturer of tartan.
“We’re delighted to be playing a part in ensuring traditional weaving skills are passed on to the younger generation,”
Keith told the selkirkrfc.com website this week, “and of course to be supporting such a prestigious local club
as Selkirk RFC. We wish Lewis & Kieran all the very best for the rest of the season.”
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Upcoming Fixtures
/ Events
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER
19th
TENNENT’S PREMIERSHIP
SELKIRK v. MUSSELBURGH
at Philiphaugh (3pm kick-off)
***
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TENNENT’S EAST RESERVE LEAGUE
DIV 1
SELKIRK ‘A’ v.
MUSSELBURGH 2nds
at Philiphaugh (3pm kick-off)
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| A full list of games for season 2019 / 2020 can be
viewed on our 'Fixtures'
page |
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Recent Results
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| 05/10 Selkirk 26, Jed-Forest 20 Report |
| 05/10 Selkirk ‘A’ 40, Jed-Forest ‘A’ 14 Report |
| 28/09 Hawick 12, Selkirk 12 Report |
| 28/09 Hawick Force 38, Selkirk ‘A’ 12 Report |
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| A full list of results and reports for
all games played this season and the past 18 seasons can be accessed by clicking on the 'Results' link above. |
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ROB’S MESSAGE FROM AUSTRALIA
DELIGHTS SELKIRK’S EX-PLAYERS
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Rob Young in action for
Selkirk against Jed (Callum Brown is the tackler)
LAST weekend’s annual lunch of the Selkirk Past
Players Club broke all records for attendance, and emphasised once again what a strong bond still exists amongst
former Philiphaugh players - of all ages, ability and vintage.
One of the highlights of the lunch came when SPPC secretary/treasurer Bryan Hoggan read out an email he’d received
from former Selkirk scrum-half Rob Young, who now lives with his family in Australia.
Rob was a tough, fearless and competitive player who always liked to be in the thick of the action, and his Philiphaugh
career spanned five season from 1986-1991.
He made a total of 87 appearances for the 1st XV, managing to score a total of 27 tries and landing three drop-goals.
Here is the text of his email –
‘My first introduction to the club was when Norman Douglas came to the farm in Biggar to invite me to play for
Selkirk - at that time Gordon Hunter was still playing for Scotland, and that impressed me.
‘My first games for the club were in the ‘A’ XV, where I learned a lot, through great coaching and perseverance.
‘I also made great pals on and off the field… but my eyes were definitely on a place in the club’s 1st XV.
‘I was privileged enough to achieve this goal, and thoroughly enjoyed it every time I pulled on the Selkirk jersey.
‘To be fair I must have been quite pushy wee s****, because I ended up with the appropriate nickname of 'Giz It'
- which stuck with me!
‘I would like to end by wishing the boys all the very best for the season. Give it all you have, as it’s an honour
to play for a club like Selkirk Cheers to you all!
The club’s thanks go to Rob for keeping in touch with the club, and his good wishes are most definitely reciprocated
by everyone at Philiphaugh.
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1st XV
(up to & including Oct. 12, 2019)
P 8 W 4 L 3 D 1
LEADING TRY SCORERS (after 8 matches): 3 – Henry Bithray, James Bett, Scott
McClymont, Jacob Henry; 2 – Callum Anderson, Frazer Anderson, Aaron McColm, Ryan Cottrell, Luke Pettie, Ewan MacDougall;
1 – Josh Welsh, Luca Merolle, Luca Berte, Bruce Riddell, Jack Houston, Donald Nichol, Robert Cook, Michael Waldron,
Andrew McColm, Ross Purves. Tries scored: 35. Tries conceded: 31.
LEADING POINTS SCORERS (after 8 matches):
47 – Aaron McColm (2 tries, 3 penalties, 14 conversions); 15 - Henry Bithray, James Bett, Scott McClymont, Jacob
Henry (3 tries). Total points scored: 226. Total points conceded: 204.
MOST APPEARANCES (after 8 matches): 8 – Aaron McColm, Luca Merolle, Luca
Berte, Josh Welsh, Callum Anderson, Luke Pettie, Scott McClymont; 7 – Ewan MacDougall, Peter Forrest, Jacob Henry,
Frazer Anderson; 6 – Ryan Cottrell, James Bett, Bruce Riddell, Ross Nixon; 5 – Jack Houston, Andrew McColm, Andy
Mackay, Robert Cook; 4 – Henry Bithray, Donald Nichol, Michael Waldron, Grant Forrest, Derry Alexander; 3 – Harry
Borthwick.
‘A’ XV
(up to & including Oct. 12, 2019)
P 8 W 6 L 1 D 1
LEADING TRY SCORERS (after 8 matches): 6 – David Cassidy; 4 – Jy Griffin, Nathaniel
Armstrong; 3 – Kieran Monks, Lewis Martin, Andrew Renwick; 2 –Donald Nichol; 1 – Mark Rutter, Ryan Cottrell, Josh
Bain, Matty Francis, Robbie Reilly, Liam Cassidy, Ross Purves, Grant Forrest, Peter Forrest, Bruce Riddell, Henry
Bithray, Gary Robertson. Total tries scored: 39. Total conceded: 27.
LEADING POINTS SCORERS (after 8 matches): 57 – Scott Clark (5 penalties, 21 conversions);
37 – David Cassidy (6 tries, 1 penalty, 2 conversions); 20 – Jy Griffin, Nathaniel Armstrong (4 tries). Total points
scored: 261. Total points conceded: 177.
MOST APPEARANCES (after 8 matches): 8 –Liam Blair; 7 – Liam Cassidy, Mark
Rutter, Nathaniel Armstrong, Jy Griffin, David Cassidy; 6 – Scott Clark, Matty Francis, Kieran Thomson, Matthew
Mackay; 4 – Josh Mackay, Jamie Turnbull, Matty Brass; 3 – Andrew Davidson, Kieran Monks, Callum Rhind, Harris McDonnell,
Robbie Reilly, Matthew Stanners.
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Tennent’s Premiership (October 12)
JED-FOREST 36-9 MUSSELBURGH
GLASGOW HAWKS R 14-46 CURRIE CHIEFTAINS
MARR 38-13 SELKIRK
ABERDEEN GRAMMAR 57-47 GHA RFC
TENNENT’S EAST RES. LEAGUE DIV.
1 (October 12)
BIGGAR 2nds U-U CURRIE CHIEFTAINS ‘A’
(Insufficient players away side, friendly played)
JED-FOREST ‘A’ u-u MUSSELBURGH
(Insufficient players home side, friendly played)
STEWART'S/MELVILLE
2nds 7-22 SELKIRK ‘A’
BOROUGHMUIR 2a 5-45 HERIOT'S BLUES 2nds
Tennent’s Premiership (October 19)
MARR v. EDINBURGH ACADEMICAL FC
GHA v. JED-FOREST
HAWICK v. GLASGOW HAWKS
CURRIE CHIEFTAINs v. ABERDEEN GRAMMAR
SELKIRK v. MUSSELBURGH
TENNENT’S EAST RES. LEAGUE DIV. 1
(October 19)
EDINBURGH ACADEMICAL 2nds v. STEWART'S/MELVILLE
2nds
(Venue reversed at clubs' request)
HAWICK FORCe v. BIGGAR 2nds
CURRIE CHIEFTAINS ‘a’ v. BOROUGHMUIR 2A
SELKIRK ‘A’ v. MUSSELBURGH
2nds
HERIOT'S BLUES 2NDs v. JED-FOREST ‘A’
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RBS 6 NATIONS
TICKETS FOR AWAY MATCHES – NOW IS THE TIME TO APPLY!
SELKIRK RFC’s tickets convener David Nichol has
announced that ticket application forms for Scotland’s away fixtures - Ireland 1st Feb, Italy 22nd Feb and Wales
14th March - are now available from the club.
“Ticket applications through the club will only be accepted on receipt of a fully completed application form,”
David told the selkirkrfc.com website this week.
“Should you want an application form, please email me at davidnichol@thinkpositive.co.uk and I will send
you a form to complete.
“Applying for tickets through the club does not guarantee you a ticket, and is very much dependant on SRU allocation.
You will be contacted in due course for payment should your application be successful.
“I will be operating a waiting list should you be unsuccessful with your application, and this will be given to
the SRU.
“Please note, only fully paid-up members of Selkirk RFC can apply for tickets through the club. The deadline for
ordering tickets through Selkirk RFC is October 16 - at the very latest.”
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LOOKING to celebrate in style? Selkirk Rugby Club’s
Philiphaugh Function Suite offers free room hire… and more! Professional DJ and party planner LAYLA ANDERSON is
available to hire for your party requirements. Photos can be projected on the suite’s big screen via our personalised
photo projection package. If you would like to book an event don't hesitate to get in touch with Selkirk Rugby
Club’s bar and events manager LAYLA ANDERSON on 07563 617 471.
… AND A GREAT VENUE FOR WEDDINGS!
The Philiphaugh Function Suite at Selkirk Rugby
Football Club is available to hire for weddings and receptions. Affordable and competitive rates. Professional
wedding decoration design and DJ hire also available. If you would like to book, don't hesitate to get in touch
with Selkirk Rugby Club’s bar and events manager LAYLA ANDERSON on 07563 617 471.
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