BELOW PAR PERFORMANCE ALLOWS ACCIES TO PICK
UP MAXIMUM POINTS Henry Bithray crosses
for Selkirk’s second try on Saturday – his seventh of the season.
Centre Josh Welsh tries to escape the clutches of an Edinburgh Accies defender.
Scrum-half Luca
Merolle stands and delivers.
Ewan MacDougall
and Luca Berte get airborne.
[Photos by GRANT KINGHORN
PICS]
HIGHLIGHTS OF EDINBURGH ACCIES
MATCH
Selkirk 24, Edinburgh Accies
26
LACK of consistency cost Selkirk dear on Saturday,
when a patchy performance allowed Edinburgh Accies to leave Philiphaugh with five Tennent’s Premiership points
under their belt.
Having deservedly taken a 12-0 lead through tries by skipper Ewan MacDougall and a cracking score from wing Henry
Bithray, who burst through three tackles on his way to the line, the home players appeared to take their foot off
the accelerator.
Instead it was the visitors who finished the first half in AN upbeat fashion - Selkirk’s former allocated pro.
player, Sean Crombie, getting the Accies bandwagon rolling with a try following a prolonged spell of pressure on
the home try line.
Things quickly went downhill for the home team after the break, with tries by Cole Imrie, Matt Campbell and Sole
putting Accies back in the driving seat at 24-12.
With the match in danger of slipping away, Selkirk’s players raised their game in the final quarter and managed
to cut the deficit to just two points with tries by Luca Berte and Andrew Renwick, one of which was converted by
Aaron McColm.
A penalty awarded by the Spanish exchange referee in the final minute of play afforded Selkirk the chance to snatch
victory at the death, but unfortunately for home supporters McColm’s 35-metre attempt dipped agonisingly under
the crossbar.
“Today’s result was hugely disappointing,” Selkirk forwards coach Neil Darling said after the match. “We started
off positively but then gave them a soft try just before the break to cut Selkirk’s lead to 12-7.
“At halftime everyone was clear about what we needed to do, but then we came out and missed tackles and didn’t
turn up for the next 15 minutes. The boys finished strongly in the final quarter, but by then it was unfortunately
too late.
“We could have snatched it at the end with Aaron’s kick, but in all honesty we shouldn’t have been in that position
if we’d taken our chances in the first half.
“Fair play to Accies, who came back strongly and took their opportunities when they came along, but we switched
off and consequently had our backs against the wall.”
Two home players sustained injuries during the contest – hooker James Bett having to leave the field with a head
knock, while Henry Bithray also had to head to the sidelines after aggravating a back strain.
The Four Seasons Forestry ‘Selkirk Man of the Match’ award went to Luca Berte, who had a solid game in his first
outing for the club at centre.
SELKIRK – A. McColm, H. Bithray, J. Welsh, L. Berte, R. Cottrell, C. Anderson, L. Merolle, L. Pettie, J. Bett,
S. Rankin, P. Forrest, D. Nichol, J. Mackay, S. McClymont, E. MacDougall. Replacements: F. Anderson, L. Martin,
B. Riddell, A. Renwick, A. Mackay.
EDIN. ACCIES – J. Loomes, J. Pecquer, R. Wilson, N. Armstrong, M. Campbell, R. Bonner, M. Love, C. Imrie, S. Crombie,
C. Lacour, A. Inwood, D. Dinnan, C. Thomson, J. Sole, R. Campbell. Replacements: K. Jenkins, C. Lamberton, P. O’Sullivan,
J. Bruce, B. Grainger.
Referee – Inigo Attorasgasti (Spain).
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