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Stormers stage second half rally
to win first crusade against Melrose Knights
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PASS MARKS. Scott Tough
feeds the Stormers' threequarter line in Saturday's match against Melrose Knights at Philiphaugh, watched by flanker
Kieran Reid.
THERE were great celebrations in the Selkirk Stormers' camp on Saturday afternoon, after the home team clinched
its first win of the season against a strong Melrose Knights side in the Border Development Cup seventh place play-off.
In the opening period the Stormers found themselves having to defend stoutly, with Melrose scoring an unconverted
try after seven minutes. The visitors then went on to notch another two touchdowns, one of which was converted.
With halftime looming, Selkirk hit back with two tries of their own - one from Ryan Henderson and one from Scott
Tough, the latter converted by Michael Rutherford. Just before the interval Peter Forrest was yellow-carded, and
Melrose kicked the resultant penalty to put the visitors 20-12 ahead at the break.
The Stormers turned in a much more confident display in the second half, scoring four tries through Brendan Reid,
Ryan Henderson, Jason Hendrie and Craig Monks, with Bruce Anderson adding a conversion and a penalty. Melrose scored
two more tries, converting one.
With Selkirk A's game against Peebles 2nds having been called off, this gave the Stormers' selectors a much bigger
squad to pick from. It also made a pleasant change for the coaches on the touchline to have a full bench of replacements
at their disposal, allowing them to give some of the lads a well earned breather,
Star of the afternoon was Stormers threequarter Ryan Henderson, who seemed to relish the presence of some of the
A XV's backs alongside him in the team. His support play was first class, allowing him to pick up two tries. However,
full credit must go to all the Selkirk players for their never-say-die attitude to the game.
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RUD REVIVAL. Stormers replacement Michael Rutherford keeps the home team on the front foot against Melrose Knights
on Saturday. (Photos: Grant Kinghorn)
STORMERS - C. Monks, M. Cockburn, J. Graham, R. Henderson, D. McFadzen, S. Tough, B. Anderson, C. Henderson, S.
Rodgerson, B. Reid, C. Ward, M. Dogan, D. Purves, K. Reid, R. McGregor.. Replacement: W. McClymont , B. Amos, J.
Hendrie, M. Rutherford, P. Forrest, S. Renwick, B. Wilkinson, F. Jack, F. Tough.
Referee - T. Heard (Jed-Forest).
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