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REJIGGED SELKIRK SIDE NO MATCH FOR ABERDEEN
GRAMMAR JUGGERNAUT
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Selkirk centre Henry
Bithray bursts clear in Saturday’s match against Aberdeen Grammar at Philiphaugh.
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Ryan Cottrell sprints
over the line for Selkirk’s opening try.
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Openside flanker
Scott McClymont battles to make yardage.
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Selkirk hooker James
Bett finds himself in the clear.
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Andrew McColm tries
to charge down a conversion attempt.
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[Photos by GRANT KINGHORN PICS]
Selkirk 24, Aberdeen Grammar 44
THERE was something approaching a sense of shellshock
around the Philiphaugh ground on Saturday, following Selkirk’s mauling at the hands of a powerful, single-minded
Aberdeen Grammar side.
The extremely physical nature of the contest was reflected in the home team’s high casualty rate. Wing Jacob Henry
required pitch-side oxygen - administered by club doctor Jeff Cullen - after sustaining a serious concussion injury
in the first half.
Head knocks were also suffered by Grant Forrest and Harry Borthwick, while wing Frazer Anderson required 10 stitches
in a nasty ear wound that necessitated a post-match visit to Borders General Hospital.
After the final whistle, Selkirk head coach Scott Wight said the result was extremely disappointing. “We can’t
make any excuses, we just didn’t turn up. There was a real lack of intensity today both in attack and defence,
which is really frustrating.
“The good thing about this sport is that you get an opportunity to correct that next Saturday. But we need to look
at ourselves before we look at anyone else prior to the game at Mansfield Park next week.”
Because of personal commitments, Selkirk had four first team players missing on Saturday, but Wight was quick to
dismiss this as any kind of explanation for the team’s below par performance.
“I’m not going to use that as an excuse,” he told the selkirkrfc.com website. “I firmly believe the 15 players
we had on the pitch today were good enough to win the match. They were given an opportunity today, and a lot of
people didn’t step up.
“And this is not necessarily the people coming into these positions, that’s collectively as a team. I’ll now have
to sit down and look at that, and there’ll be some harsh selections for the next game. That’s just the reality
of sport at the end of the day.”
Comfortably ahead by 32-5 at the break, Aberdeen Grammar’s six tries came from skipper Sam Knudson (2), Nathan
Brown, Doug Russell, Will Alton and Tom Aplin, who also kicked two penalties and four conversions.
Selkirk had the consolation of securing a bonus point, thanks to the four tries scored by Ryan Cottrell, Scott
McClymont (2) and Henry Bithray. Aaron McColm kicked two conversions.
Four Seasons Forestry Selkirk ‘Man of the Match’ – Josh Welsh.
SELKIRK - R. Cottrell, F. Anderson, J. Welsh, H. Bithray, J. Henry, C. Anderson, Aaron McColm, L. Pettie, J. Bett,
B. Riddell, P. Forrest, A. Mackay, Andrew McColm, S. McClymont, H. Borthwick. Replacements: R. Purves, G. Forrest,
D. Alexander, L. Berte, L. Merolle.
ABERDEEN GRAMMAR – B. Perrott, N. Brown, N. Coe, T. Aplin, D. Russell, S. Knudson, J. Troup, A. Cook, B. Inglis,
T. Schosser, J. Robertson, R. Cessford, C. Jollands, W. Alton, G. Ryan. Replacements: M. Martin, C. Robertson,
G. Nichol, M. Mitchell, P. Ritchie.
Referee – Stuart Burns (SRU).
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