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Teams for Saturday 14th September
FEATHERS FLY AS SELKIRK DOWN
HAWKS IN HIGH-SCORING PREMIERSHIP OPENER
Selkirk’s Italian wing,
Luca Berte, dives over in the corner on Saturday to score his first try for the club.
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‘Man of the Match’
Ross Nixon cuts between two Hawks defenders….
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…and gets away his
off-load, watched by team-mate Josh Welsh.
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Selkirk vice-captain
Luke Pettie barrels over for the first of his two tries.
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No stopping replacement
Ryan Cottrell as he sprints home for a great solo try.
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[All photos taken by Selkirk RFC’s club photographer GRANT KINGHORN]
Selkirk 50, Glasgow Hawks 15
EIGHT tries and a 50-point scoreline gave Selkirk’s
supporters plenty to smile about at sun-soaked Philiphaugh on Saturday, as the Souters made an impressive start
to their Tennent’s Premiership campaign.
It must also have been particularly pleasing for head coach Scott Wight to see his new half-back combination function
so smoothly.
Having started Selkirk’s past two games at full-back, Luca Merolle cleared relished pulling on the No. 9 jersey
and showed he possessed all the skills to direct operations from behind the home pack.
His young half-back partner Callum Anderson also gave an assured performance - his perfectly weighted cross-field
kick for hooker James Bett’s try proving one of the game’s stand-out moments.
Another high point came in the second half when replacement centre Ryan Cottrell, with his very first touch of
the ball, raced 65 metres down the pitch for an outstanding solo try.
On the debit side, Selkirk conceded a bucket-load of penalties throughout the match, with no fewer than three home
players being shown yellow cards – Jack Houston, Grant Forrest and Scott McClymont.
However, nothing should detract from the focus and energy displayed by Ewan MacDougall’s men in a convincing victory
that gets the Souters’ Premiership campaign off to the best possible start.
“I can’t fault the boys’ attitude today,” said head coach Scott Wight after the final whistle. “I thought defensively
we were really good, and we also performed well with ball in hand. However, our first-up tackles were poor and
we gave away far too many penalties.
“No-one really knew what to expect until these first Premiership games had been played. Now all the videos will
come out so you’ll be able to do a bit of analysis on the other teams, because you’re seeing footage from the Premiership
for the first time.
“Hawks have obviously had a lot of changes, with youngsters coming in to replace players who’ve joined Super6 franchises.
I’m pleased to have got off to winning start, but there’s still plenty to work on.”
Try scorers for Selkirk were Luke Pettie (2), James Bett, Frazer Anderson, Luca Berte, Aaron McColm, Jacob Henry
and Ryan Cottrell. McColm added five conversions. Hawks’ tries came from Craig Shields and Paul Cairncross, with
Liam Brims adding a penalty and conversion.
Centre Ross Nixon was named Selkirk’s Four Seasons Forestry ‘Selkirk Man of the Match’.
SELKIRK – Aaron McColm, L. Berte, J. Welsh, R.
Nixon, F. Anderson, C. Anderson, L. Merolle, L. Pettie, J. Bett, B. Riddell, J. Houston, P. Forrest, R. Cook, S.
McClymont, E. MacDougall. Replacements – J. Henry, R. Cottrell, Andrew McColm, H. Borthwick, G. Forrest.
GLASGOW HAWKS – N. Moffat, M. Priestly, M. Stewart,
C. Harrison, C. McCarron, L. Brims, K. Kay, G. Strain, P. Cairncross, E. Rintoul, L. Archer, S. Halafihi, J. Gemmell,
C. Shields, R. Sweeney. Replacements: T, McTeir, G. Armstrong, D. Milne, C. Holborn, E. Aitken.
Referee – Mike Todd (SRU).
SELKIRK ’A’ HOLD NERVE TO EDGE OUT BIGGAR 2nds
IN PULSATING ENCOUNTER
Selkirk ‘A’ outside centre
Jy Griffin takes on the Biggar defence, while team-mate Matty Brass looks on.
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‘A’ XV lock Andy Mackay
on the charge, with Liam Cassidy in support.
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Selkirk’s replacement
scrum-half Scott Tomlinson gets the ball away.
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[Photos by GRANT KINGHORN PICS]
Selkirk ‘A’ 33, Biggar 2nds 26
A BATTLING fightback in the game’s final quarter
saw Selkirk ‘A’ overcome a strong Biggar 2nds side to register an opening day win in the new-look Tennent’s East
Reserve League Division 1.
In sunny conditions both teams were eager to run the ball, with the home team drawing first blood when Matty Brass
landed a penalty (it was to prove the Souters’ only goal-kicking success of the afternoon).
Biggar hit back with tries from Finlay Barr and Euan Bogle, with the latter’s conversion putting the visitors 12-3
ahead.
Powerful drives by Andrew Renwick and Andy Mackay, plus strong runs from Jy Griffin and Lewis Martin, eventually
led to tries by Liam Blair, Kieran Monks and Martin, giving Selkirk an 18-12 interval lead.
On the restart indifferent tackling led to a try for Biggar by Marcus Dobie, converted by Bogle, before a penalty
try put the visitors 26-18 ahead.
The introduction of 42-year-old ex-Selkirk skipper Scott Tomlinson, first at scrum-half and then at stand-off,
put fresh heart into the home team, with tries by Monks, Nathaniel Armstrong and Matty Francis eventually sealing
a hard-fought victory.
“It was a great team effort,” Selkirk ‘A’ coach Darren Hoggan said after the game, “and following a slow start
the boys showed a lot of commitment, both in attack and defence. A bonus point and a home win – you can’t ask for
more than that.”
The Four Seasons Forestry ‘Selkirk Man of the Match’ was Lewis Martin.
SELKIRK ‘A’ – C. Rhind, K. Monks, J. Griffin, L.
Martin, N. Armstrong, M. Brass, H. McDonnell, L. Blair, M. Francis, K. Thomson, D. Alexander, A. Renwick, L. Cassidy,
M. Mackay, A. Mackay. Replacements: S. Tomlinson, S. Brister, C. Fairbairn, M. Stanners, M. Rutter.
BIGGAR 2nds – S. Hornell, J. Bell, D. Brewster,
C. McDonald, J. Baulkwill, E. Bogle, F. Barr, A. Muir, L. Smith, R. Thomson, Z. Lyon, H. Archibald, C. Dunlop,
D. McCartney, C. Frame. Replacements: A. Howitson, M. Dobie, J. Muir, C. Taylor.
Referee – Alastair Kirk (Melrose).
OH BOY! PLAYERS DISCOVER HAVING
A BABY AROUND IS WHOLE NEW BALL GAME
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Emma, Peter, Gavin and
Rachel pictured at the weekend with their new offspring, George and Finlay. [Photo – JOHN SMAIL]
BORN within three days of each other, babies George and Finlay already have the month of their birth in common.
And with both fathers being Selkirk players, the pair could well have even more in common by the time they’re old
enough to lace up their own rugby boots.
Weighing in at 7lbs 6½ozs, George Bert came into the world on August 20 at Borders General Hospital, and
is the son of current 1st XV regular Peter Forrest and his fiancée Emma Pearce. “He’s a really good baby,”
Emma told the selkirkrfc.com website this week, “and I’m feeling pretty chilled and relaxed. This is certainly
helping to make our lives a lot easier.”
Finlay George, who is the son of Gavin and Rachel Craig, was born at the BGH on August 23 weighing 8lbs 9ozs. “Being
a children’s nurse I’m obviously used to babies,” said Rachel, “so I was more nervous about the labour to be honest.
However, everything has turned out fine, and Gav’s been great at helping me with him.”
Emma confirms that Peter has also been a fantastic support since George’s arrival, and had no hesitation about
getting stuck into nappy-changing duties. Perhaps not surprisingly, both couples say that all of the babies’ grandparents
are ‘besotted’ by the boys.
In recent months there has been something of a baby boom amongst current and former Selkirk players and their partners.
Among those who have recently become new parents are Callum & Katie Johnston (Struan), Neil & Yvonne Brown
(Sophie), Gordon & Rachel Patterson (Joshua), David & Clare Gray (Gregor) and Darren Clapperton and Jenny
Roden (Lachlan).
All of which probably means that in 18 years’ time, Selkirk’s rugby team is going to be one formidable outfit!
SCOTLAND COACH MAKES FLYING VISIT
TO SELKIRK ON CHARITY GOLF CHALLENGE
Well above par – John
Rutherford greets Gregor Townsend on Selkirk’s 9th green. [Photo – GRANT KINGHORN PICS]
ANYONE discovering that Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend was in Selkirk, would expect to find him at Philiphaugh.
However, on Sunday the 46-year-old was up on Selkirk Hill in his bid to complete a hole on each of the Borders’
21 courses to raise money for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.
At Selkirk, Gregor played the 9th hole on the course, where he was joined by golf club captain Jackson Cockburn
and vice-captain John Coyle.
Selkirk Rugby Club’s ex-internationalist John Rutherford had gone along just to watch, but at the invitation of
Gregor joined the three other players. “I immediately thought, ‘Oh no, I’m going to make a right fool of myself!’”
John told the selkirkrfc.com website.
Gregor played first off the tee, leaving his ball short in the rough. Jackson and the two Johns all gave themselves
birdie chances. The Scotland coach played an excellent chip to one foot from the hole, before Jackson Cockburn
and John Coyle left their putts short.
John Rutherford then stepped up and sank his birdie putt. “It was a bit surreal,” laughed John, “but great to be
part of Gregor’s challenge. I was so impressed that Gregor was doing this the day before he and Scotland’s world
cup squad left for Japan. It was a typically generous gesture, and it was great that Doddie was able to accompany
him around all 21 courses.”
Gregor’s Border Golf Challenge has raised over £6,000 to date, and anyone wishing to make an on-line donation
should follow this link - https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/doddiegolf
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