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SELKIRK ‘A’ PLAYERS DIG DEEP
TO CLINCH SECOND SUCCESSIVE RESERVE LEAGUE WIN
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Number eight Donald Nichol scores
the first of his two tries for Selkirk ‘A’ at Malleny Park.
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Prop Kieran Thomson
tests the strength of Currie A’s defence.
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Jy Griffin crosses
for a great try on the stroke of halftime.
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[Photos by DAVID NICHOL]
Currie Chieftains ‘A’ 26, Selkirk
‘A’ 33
IN a game that had more twists and turns than an
Ian Rankin novel, Selkirk ‘A’ continued to confound expectations by recording their second straight bonus point
win in Tennent’s East Reserve League Division 1.
Underlining just how far this young Selkirk team has come, in last season’s corresponding league fixture at Malleny
Park, Currie ‘A’ romped to a massive 78-5 victory.
Even allowing for the fact Currie couldn’t field a front row on Saturday, which meant scrums were uncontested and
Currie had to play with 14 men, the streetwise home team still proved dangerous opponents.
Playing with the strong wind at their backs, Selkirk went 13-0 up through a brace of sweetly struck penalties by
Scott Clark and a try from the tireless Donald Nichol. Although the home team replied with a score from Fraser
Sayers, Nichol’s second try plus one from Jy Griffin put Selkirk 25-5 ahead at the interval.
The presence of experienced Kiwi fly-half Henry Bithray - back for his second season with Selkirk - proved crucial
for the visitors, with his siege-gun kicks always able to relieve pressure on the home try line.
With the wind now at their backs, tries by Haggart, Kororua and Jones gave Currie fresh heart. However, a barnstorming
touchdown by Robbie Reilly maintained the visitors’ narrow 30-26 lead.
It was left to the unfaltering boot of Scott Clark (who finished with a personal haul of 13 points) to put the
issue beyond doubt, sending over another superb penalty kick in injury time. This set the seal on a well-deserved
victory that will do much to bolster the confidence of this young Philiphaugh team for the challenges ahead.
SELKIRK ‘A’ - M. Rutter, H. McDonnell, J. Griffin, L. Martin, N. Armstrong, H. Bithray, S. Clark, M. Waldron, M.
Francis, K. Thomson, L. Cassidy, J. Turnbull, R. Purves, M. Mackay, D. Nichol. Replacements: – C. Rhind, B. Purves,
D. Cassidy, L. Blair, S. Brister, M. Stanners, R. Reilly.
CURRIE ‘A’ – T. Hall, G. Russell, F. Sayers, A. Cleland, T. Clark, S. Leto, C. Jones, C. Harrison, R. Clark, C.
Haggart, S. Edwards, B. Murdock, G. Halliday, A. Kororua. Replacements: S. Rae, F. Scotti.
Referee – Andy Bolden (Edinburgh RRS).
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