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SELKIRK ‘A’ PAY PRICE FOR DEFENSIVE
LAPSES AS HAWICK CONSOLIDATE TOP SPOT
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Andrew McColm prepares
to offload the ball to supporting team-mate Harry Aynsley.
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David Cassidy takes
on the Hawick defence, with Rory Hamilton & Liam Cassidy looking on.
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Matthew Mackay on the
charge, with fellow lock forward Paul Smail ready to lend support.
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Centre Lewis Martin breaks
upfield, as wing Kieran Monks gets ready to back him up.
[Photos – GRANT KINGHORN PICS]
Selkirk ‘A’ 15, Hawick Force
27
LEAGUE leaders Hawick Force proved too strong for
second-placed Selkirk ‘A’ in Saturday’s top-of-the-table Tennent’s Reserve League East 1 clash at Philiphaugh.
Playing into the strong wind, Selkirk had to withstand a prolonged spell of early pressure on their own line, before
surprising the visitors with a breakaway try scored by Rory Hamilton (wearing the No. 9 shirt, after Callum McNeill
had been called into the 1st XV squad).
Stung by this setback, Hawick Force’s strong-running threequarters exploited some weak tackling in the home team’s
defensive line to score three unanswered tries in the space of 14 minutes through Aaron Redpath, Mully Bannerman
and Kyle Brunton (who added a conversion) to put his side 17-5 ahead at the break.
The visitors stretched their lead early in the second half through Bannerman’s second try, but Selkirk hit back
when flanker Andrew McColm rounded off a quickly taken tap penalty by diving over for an opportunist score.
Hawick scrum-half Deaglan Lightfoot put the result beyond doubt by scoring his team’s fifth try. Soon afterwards
Force replacement Paul Stewart was shown a yellow and then a red card by referee Alastair Kirk.
In the closing minutes of the match, Kieran Monks scored a consolation try for the Philiphaugh side, making the
final score 27-15 in the visitors’ favour.
“We knew it was going to be a hard game,” said Selkirk ‘A’ coach Darren Hoggan after the final whistle. “I felt
Hawick had more power than us and outmuscled us a wee bit, especially out wide.
“So yes, disappointed, but we’ve got players to come back into our squad so we’ll get stronger, and I’m happy where
the team finds itself at the end of the year.”
Saturday’s Four Season’s Forestry ‘Selkirk Man of the Match’ award went to Rory Hamilton.
SELKIRK – M. Rutter, N. Armstrong, L. Martin, H. Aynsley, H. Macdonell, D. Cassidy, R. Hamilton, G. Forrest, M.
Francis, M. Haldane, M. Mackay, P. Smail, A. McColm, L. Cassidy, R. Purves. Replacements: R. Reilly, K. Thomson,
S. Wilson, K. Monks, M. Brass, C. Young.
HAWICK – M. Bannerman, R. McKean, A. Redpath, G. Welsh, M. Tait, K. Brunton, D. Lightfoot, R. Toogood, R. Hartdegen,
R. Macleod, J. Grant, M. Renwick, G. Wardle, G. Huggan, J. Rowley. Replacements: N. Murray, P. Stewart, R. Bannerman.
Referee – Alastair Kirk (Melrose).
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