SELKIRK RUGBY CLUB CELEBRATES
SUCCESSFUL SEASON AT PLAYER AWARDS NIGHT Selkirk’s award winners
for season 2019/20 (clockwise from top left) – Ewan MacDougall, Henry Bithray, Ryan Cottrell, Aaron McColm, Callum
McNeill, Scott Clark, Callum Anderson, Scott McClymont. [Photos – GRANT KINGHORN PICS]
By JOHN SMAIL
DESPITE season 2019/20 ending prematurely because of the coronavirus pandemic, Selkirk Rugby Club was able to reflect
on a highly successful campaign at Friday’s annual player awards night.
To participate in the ceremony, the Philiphaugh club’s coaches, players and rugby officials were all digitally
linked via the ‘Zoom’ computer application, with each of the nine awards being presented to each individual winner
‘virtually’.
“It was a great idea to hold the awards in this way,” said Selkirk chairman Dennis Henderson, “and everyone seemed
to enjoy joining up with their team-mates on-line and having a bit of banter.
“The coaches and players deserve huge credit for all the work they put in during the season. Reaching the Tennent’s
Premiership play-offs was a great achievement by the 1st XV, while the club’s ‘A’ XV also managed a top four finish
in Tennent’s East Reserve League 1.”
The night proved especially memorable for Selkirk 1st XV skipper Ewan MacDougall, who picked up no fewer than three
trophies – 1st XV ‘Players’ Player’ Cup, joint winner of the Tom Henderson Trophy (for special achievement) &
the Boag Cup (Selkirk ‘Player of the Year’).
“I’m obviously delighted to have been chosen for these awards,” said MacDougall, “but it’s really the whole team
who deserve to take the credit. The boys really stuck in well over the season, and reaching the play-offs gave
everyone at the club a huge lift.
“New coaches Scott Wight and Neil Darling got a great response from all the players, and that certainly helped
make my job as captain a lot easier.”
The awards night was chaired by Selkirk head coach Scott Wight, who congratulated the whole playing squad on their
efforts throughout the year. “One of the biggest plus-marks for me was the numbers at training,” said Wight.
“There was a huge buy-in from all the players, and the hard work that went into training nights definitely had
a positive effect on the 15 players who ran out to represent Selkirk every Saturday.”
Another highlight of Selkirk’s season was the appointment of Wight as head coach of the Scotland Club XV for its
matches against Ireland’s Club XV, as well as the selection of Ewan MacDougall and Aaron McColm for Scotland’s
Club XV.
Selkirk’s director of rugby, Ewen Robbie, made special mention of the players’ enthusiastic support for the club’s
recent community-based initiative, which had seen over £2,000 raised for Selkirk Food Bank.
“One of the rugby board’s aims this year was to improve the teams’ community work, and the players’ charity challenge
earlier this month proved incredibly successful. Fraser Easson gets a club shop voucher for clocking up the most
kilometers, and the challenge proved a massive success.”
During the night, addresses were also given by 1st XV and ‘A’ XV team managers Tom Ramage and John Smail, while
player Matthew Francis proposed a special toast in memory of the club’s late president Gus Boag.
Selkirk ‘A’ player-coach David Cassidy received a special award in recognition of a Philiphaugh playing career
stretching over four decades.
The furthest-flung ‘Zoom’ participant was 1st XV player Henry Bithray, who joined in the on-line chat from his
home in New Zealand.
2020 SELKIRK RUGBY CLUB PLAYER AWARDS
Oliver Lawson Quaich (top 1st XV try scorer) – Henry Bithray (9 tries).
Neil Redpath Cup (most committed player) – Callum McNeill.
Wat Henderson Quaich (outstanding performer in first season at Philiphaugh) – Callum Anderson.
1st XV Players’ Player of the Year – Ewan MacDougall.
‘A’ XV Players’ Player of the Year – Scott Clark.
Tom Henderson Trophy (special achievement by a 1st XV player) – Ewan MacDougall & Aaron McColm (joint winners).
Bell Cup (best tackler) – Scott McClymont.
Gary Selkirk Cup (club’s best trainer) – Ryan Cottrell.
Boag Cup (Selkirk RFC Player of the Year) – Ewan MacDougall.
LEADING TRY SCORERS (after 23 matches): 9 – Henry
Bithray; 6 – Ewan MacDougall, Scott McClymont, Josh Welsh, Ryan Cottrell; 5 – Luke Pettie, James Bett; 4 – Callum
McNeill; 3 - Frazer Anderson, Peter Forrest, Aaron McColm, Jacob Henry; 2 – Bruce Riddell, Sean Rankin, Luca Berte,
Donald Nichol, Andrew McColm, Callum Anderson; 1 – Josh Mackay, Andrew Renwick, Luca Merolle, Jack Houston, Robert
Cook, Michael Waldron, Ross Purves, Nathaniel Armstrong. Tries scored: 80. Tries conceded: 70.
LEADING POINTS SCORERS (after 23 matches): 99 – Aaron McColm (3 tries, 10 penalties, 27 conversions); 55 - Henry
Bithray (9 tries, 5 conversions). Total points scored: 540. Total points conceded: 495.
MOST APPEARANCES (after 23 matches): 23 – Luca Berte; 22 – Peter Forrest; 21 – Luke Pettie, Ewan MacDougall, Luca
Merolle, Josh Welsh, Scott McClymont, Callum Anderson, Ryan Cottrell, Bruce Riddell; 20 – James Bett; 19 – Aaron
McColm; 18 – Frazer Anderson, Henry Bithray, Andy Mackay; 17 – Ross Nixon, Sean Rankin; 12 – Josh Mackay, Donald
Nichol; 9 – Callum McNeill.
‘A’ XV
(up to & including March 7th, 2020)
P 20 W 13 L 6 D 1
LEADING TRY SCORERS (after 20 matches): 9 – David
Cassidy; 8 – Nathaniel Armstrong; 5 – Jy Griffin, Kieran Monks; 4 – Lewis Martin, Robert Cook; 3 – Michael Waldron,
Ross Purves, Matthew Francis, Andrew Renwick; 2 – Robbie Reilly, Clark Young, Mark Rutter, Liam Blair, Gary Robertson,
Donald Nichol; 1 – Rory Hamilton, Matthew Brass, Andrew McColm, Matthew Mackay, Callum McNeill, Ryan Cottrell,
Josh Bain, Liam Cassidy, Grant Forrest, Peter Forrest, Bruce Riddell, Henry Bithray. Total tries scored: 72. Total
conceded: 58.
LEADING POINTS SCORERS (after 20 matches): 126 – Scott Clark (14 penalties, 42 conversions); 37 – David Cassidy
(6 tries, 1 penalty, 2 conversions); 35 – Nathaniel Armstrong (7 tries); Total points scored: 460. Total points
conceded: 365.
MOST APPEARANCES (after 20 matches): 18 – Liam Cassidy, Nathaniel Armstrong; 17 – Matthew Mackay, Mark Rutter,
Matthew Francis; 16 – Kieran Thomson, David Cassidy; 15 – Scott Clark; 14 – Harris Macdonell; 13 – Lewis Martin;
11 – Jy Griffin, Robbie Reilly, Jamie Turnbull, Paul Smail; 10 – Harry Aynsley, Ross Purves; 9 - Derry Alexander,
Matty Brass, Michael Waldron; 8 – Moray Haldane, Andrew Davidson, Liam Blair; 7 – Rory Hamilton, Kieran Monks,
Robert Cook, Andrew McColm; 6 – Grant Forrest, Harry Borthwick.
News
ANDY HEADING IN A NEW DIRECTION,
BUT TIES WITH SELKIRK STILL STRONG
HOME is where the heart is – a saying which Selkirk rugby player Andy Mackay (pictured above) understands only
too well.
For having completed his sport & fitness college course, the second row forward has moved back to his home
town of Alness, Ross & Cromarty, following an invitation from former club Ross Sutherland to become their captain.
“I’ve actually wanted to captain the club ever since I was a boy,” Andy told the selkirkrfc.com website this week,
“so it was an offer I was never really going to refuse.
“In addition Ross Sutherland has offered me work as a part-time development officer, which is something I’m really
looking forward to.”
Ross Sutherland RFC play in Tennent’s Caledonia League 2 North, and are based at the Naval Ground in Invergordon.
“I’ve enjoyed every minute of my time with Selkirk,” added Andy, “and I’m remaining dual-registered so that I would
be able to turn out for them again if the opportunity ever arose.
“The Selkirk players are a great bunch of lads, and Philiphaugh will always be a special place to me.”
Andy spent two seasons at Philiphaugh, making 44 1st XV appearances for Selkirk and scoring a single try during
that period.
The Selkirk club would like to wish Andy every success in his new rugby career with Ross Sutherland RFC.
Upcoming Fixtures
/ Events
ALL RUGBY CURRENTLY
IN LOCKDOWN
A full list of games for season 2019 / 2020 can be
viewed on our 'Fixtures'
page
07/03 Selkirk ‘A’ 17, Heriot’s Blues 2nds 5 Report
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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Apologies for any bad language that
may be heard during this recording.
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TENNENT’S PREMIERSHIP
P
W
L
D
Pts
Marr RFC
16
14
1
1
69
Currie Chieftains
17
13
4
0
67
Hawick
16
12
3
1
60
SELKIRK
18
9
7
2
49
Aberdeen Grammar
18
8
10
0
39
Jed-Forest
18
6
12
0
36
GHA
18
6
12
0
34
Musselburgh
18
5
11
2
34
Glasgow Hawks
17
5
12
0
32
Edinburgh Accies
16
4
10
2
27
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BOOKERS BORDER
LEAGUE (Pool ‘B’)
P
W
L
D
Pts
SELKIRK
3
2
1
0
11
Hawick
1
1
0
0
4
Peebles
1
0
1
0
1
Kelso
1
0
1
0
0
*****************************************
TENNENT’S RESERVE
LEAGUE EAST 1
P
W
L
D
Pts
Hawick Force
16
15
1
0
77
Musselburgh 2nds
16
12
4
0
63
Stew/Mel. 2nds
18
10
8
0
60
SELKIRK ‘A’
17
11
5
1
60
Edin. Accies 2nds
16
7
8
1
53
Heriot's Blues 2nds
15
7
7
1
45
Biggar 2nds
16
7
9
0
44
Currie Chieftains ‘A’
16
5
11
0
38
Boroughmuir 2A
16
3
10
3
33
Jed-Forest ‘A’
16
1
15
0
15
Sponsors
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LOOKING to celebrate in style? Selkirk Rugby Club’s
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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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