It was a game of two halves for Selkirk at Musselburgh on Saturday, and unfortunately it was the first one that cost the team.
The 1st XV will have fancied their chances going in, with a strong showing at Philiphaugh last week against runaway league leaders Stirling County. Despite the 12-29 result, the scoreline felt unfair to the boys, who had a lot to be proud of with their efforts.
This time around, in a visit to Stoneyhill, the squad was bolstered by the return of familiar faces Callum Marshall and former 1st XV captain Andrew Renwick, who slotted back into the pack to add plenty of experience.
However, a 19-0 deficit at the break proved too much to claw back, though the lads showed real character after the restart to come away with a losing bonus point in a 26-21 defeat.
The first half was one to forget. Musselburgh came out of the blocks fast, and Sandy Watt got them off the mark around 15 minutes in, with Paul Cunningham adding the extras. Another quarter-hour later and Michael Badenhorst made it two for the hosts. Musselburgh looked as though they might be running away with it when Murray McCowan added a third before the half-time whistle, leaving the boys with a mountain to climb heading into the changing rooms.
Whatever was said at half-time clearly worked though. Selkirk came out a completely different side, and the response travelling fans were after arrived through youngsters Keir Thomson and Oliver McClymont, who both went over, with McClymont knocking over both conversions. Suddenly it was 19-14 and it looked as though a real comeback could be on.
Burgh weren’t done, though. A great break from Conal Prior put Tom Foley in for a try under the sticks, pushing the home side back out to a 12-point lead and making the task that bit harder.
But the Souters never stopped fighting. With the clock in the red, Josh Welsh grabbed a try on the very last play of the game, and McClymont’s conversion cut the gap to five. Sadly, there was no time left for one more push at a winning score.
It makes for a frustrating result for head coach Derek O’Riordan, with the second-half performance showing what his squad is capable of.
Selkirk sit bottom of National League Division One at the halfway point. With one win to date, getting a bonus point on the road is a small positive to build on.
Next up, we’re back in Border League action on Friday night, when Peebles visit Philiphaugh. Then it’s Division One again on 14 November, when mid-table Boroughmuir come to town.
