Selkirk ‘A’ followed up their home victory over Linlithgow at Philiphaugh the previous week with another impressive performance, this time producing a comprehensive 71–7 win on the road against Preston Lodge 2nds.
The visitors made a flying start, with Calum Findlater opening the scoring to put Selkirk 5–0 ahead. Finn Mallin quickly added a second try, with Joel Campbell adding the conversion to stretch the advantage to 12–0.
Selkirk continued to dominate and Mathew Stanners crossed for the third, with Campbell again adding the extras. Andrew Davidson then secured the bonus-point try, another successful Campbell conversion making it 26–0.
Before the interval, Finn Mallin grabbed his second try of the afternoon to send Selkirk into the changing rooms with a commanding 31–0 half-time lead.
Selkirk’s forwards were providing an excellent platform throughout, with second-row Stanners enjoying an impressive afternoon in the pack. There was no let-up after the break. Former club captain Scott McClymont crossed for Selkirk’s sixth try, with Campbell converting to make it 38–0, before stand-off Thomas Martin added another, again converted by Campbell.
Martin was enjoying a good afternoon in the number 10 jersey, helping to keep Selkirk on the front foot as the visitors continued to move the ball and put the Preston Lodge defence under pressure.
Mallin then completed his hat-trick as Selkirk passed the half-century mark at 52–0. One of the highlights of the afternoon followed when Chris Lawson, making his ‘A’ team debut after stepping up from the Youth Club, marked the occasion in style, running in a try from 40 metres out.
Preston Lodge did manage a converted try, but it proved only a consolation as Selkirk maintained their attacking momentum and eventually brought up 71 points to complete an emphatic 71–7 victory.
‘A’ team captain Sam Coltherd was instrumental in the victory and praised the all-round performance afterwards: “It was a really good team performance. We managed the game well, played in the right areas of the pitch and our defence was outstanding.
“The forwards gave us a great platform and when we got opportunities, we were clinical and took our chances.
“We’ve got a massive game at Mansfield Park this weekend against Hawick, so it’s about taking that momentum into Saturday and hopefully keeping ourselves at the top of the table.”
The result makes it back-to-back league wins for the ‘A’ and keeps Selkirk at the top of the Arnold Clark East Region League Division One.
Attention now turns to a crucial encounter this weekend when Selkirk travel to Mansfield Park to face Hawick. With Hawick sitting second in the league, it sets up an important top-ofthe-table Border clash as Selkirk look to maintain their position at the summit.
