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No hiding place at Meggetland, as Selkirk are caught in Boroughmuir
riptide
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DEJA-VU. Another forward drive by Boroughmuir's
powerful pack results in a first half try for prop Fred Lait - the second of 10 touchdowns scored by the city team
at Meggetland on Tuesday night. (Photo: Grant Kinghorn)
A MAKESHIFT Selkirk team ended their Premier One campaign
on a disappointing note at Meggetland on Tuesday night, being swamped 58-0 by a tsunami of tries from a talented
Boroughmuir team, who grew in strength and confidence as the evening wore on.
Hit by injuries and call-offs, the visitors had to call on the services of Selkirk Youth Club players Peter Forrest
and Darren Clapperton, who along with 'A' XV lock Callum Marshall were making their first senior appearances for
the club. All three youngsters battled gamely against far more physical and experienced players, and showed genuine
promise for the future.
Having played six matches in the space of the past 20 days, the Souters' packed end of season fixture programme
is beginning to exact a heavy toll on the players, whose energy levels were understandably lower than their Boroughmuir
opponents, who have played just one fixture in the corresponding period. In spite of this, Selkirk's gutsy players
have still managed to win four out of these six fixtures, and deserve huge credit for completing a schedule which
would have seriously taxed teams with double the Souters' limited playing resources.
One of the plus-marks for the Philiphaugh side from Tuesday night's contest was a storming display by teenage number
eight Andrew Renwick. The young Yarrow farmer emerged as one of the visitors' best performers on the night, on
what was the former Scotland under-17 player's first start for the 1st XV this season. Going on this whole-hearted
display, his name will be one of the first on the team sheet from now on.
Meanwhile half-backs Lee Jones and Gavin Craig battled hard to make best use of what little ball came their way,
as Selkirk's scrum was under intense strain from the very start, with the continuing absence of skipper Neil Darling
being keenly felt.
Ahead 19-0 at the break, Boroughmuir ran away with the game in the second half as the city side's heavier forwards
simply proved too powerful for Selkirk's tiring pack. The visitors lost the services of Simon Willet in the 60th
minute after the lock damaged ankle ligaments, necessitating Rory Aglen to take the field once again, having himself
left the field with a leg knock moments earlier.
Boroughmuir's tries came from Ben Fisher (2), Malcolm Clapperton (2), Ed Mills (2), Fred Lait, Greig Scott, Angus
Martyn and Steven Ruddick. Mills and Matt Cannon added two conversions apiece.
Despite this defeat, Selkirk are still guaranteed a top five finish in Premier One - a remarkable achievement for
a side many pundits had marked down as relegation certainties at the start of the season.
Now lying fourth, Selkirk's final position will not be known until Melrose complete their concluding fixture against
Watsonians at The Greenyards later this month. A bonus point victory for the home team would see Melrose finish
on the same 63-point mark as Selkirk, but leapfrog them into fourth place by virtue of a better points differential.
SELKIRK - F. Harkness, J. Hendrie, C. MacDougall, A. Lyall, B. Purves, G. Craig, L. Jones, G. Patterson, S. Forrest,
M. Murray, R. Aglen, S. Willet, E. Gauché, C. Johnston, A. Renwick. Replacements: A. McDowall, P. Forrest,
C. Marshall, D. Gray, D. Clapperton.
Referee - D. Walker (Irvine).
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