Selkirk v Melrose
Selkirk v Melrose – 23/2/24
Border League fare was on show under the Philliphaugh floodlights on a still and cold evening. This was a typical Border League performance and with two “feisty” scrum halves endeavouring to upset, whether legally or otherwise, each other’s play. With two minutes played, following a series of picks and drives on the left, Selkirk spread the ball wide to the right to Josh Welsh who scored an unconverted try in the right corner. Selkirk, under pressure, gave away a series of penalties in their own 22 with, at 14 minutes, Aaron McColm being awarded a yellow card. After a series of plays on the left, two minutes later, Melrose spread play right to Keiran Clark who scored an unconverted try in the right corner. With ten minutes until the break Melrose won a penalty lineout on the right and from the resultant maul Will Ferrie crashed over to the right of the posts for a try converted by Struan Hutchison. Five minutes later Hutchison was shown a yellow card for a high tackle and from the consequent penalty lineout in the left corner James Bett scored an unconverted try. The half ended with an unsuccessful Clark penalty attempt from the Selkirk 10m line.
Half time – Selkirk 10 Melrose 12
Two minutes into the second half Clark was, again, unsuccessful with a penalty and, two minutes later, Bett scored his second unconverted try from a penalty lineout rolling maul on the right. On 51 minutes it was Ben McLean’s turn to score from a penalty lineout rolling maul on the right with Hutchison converting. Six minutes later Selkirk won a maul on the right with the ball being fired left to Finlay Wheelans whose unconverted try gave Selkirk a single point lead. From a scrummage free-kick near the Selkirk line, at 64 minutes, the ball was passed left eventually reaching Connor Spence whose unconverted try gave Melrose a four- point lead. With ten minutes remaining Aaron McColm received what appeared to be a serious head injury and play was suspended whist he was treated and stretchered off the field. We wish him well for a speedy recovery. Play had hardly resumed when Douglas Crawford received a “loud one” and was escorted from the pitch on “rubbery” legs. He claims he was only winded!
Selkirk 20 Melrose 24
Selkirk – Callum Anderson, Josh Welsh, Andrew Grant-Suttie, Ross Nixon, Blake Cullen, Aaron McColm, Hugo Alderson, Luke Pettie, James Bett, Zen Szwagrzak, Andrew Cochrane, Callum Turnbull, Andrew McColm, Liam Cassidy, Kieran Westlake. Replacements – Sam Clark, Max Bury, Connor Ward, Robert Cook, Finlay Wheelans, Lachlan Ferguson, Cameron Easson, Callum McNeill.
Melrose – Donald Crawford, Connor Spence, Roly Brett, Struan Hutchison, Keiran Clark, Douglas Crawford, Bruce Colvine, Will Owen, Ben McLean, Andrew Kirk, Thomas Brown, Angus Runciman©, Ruairidh Lindsay, Will Ferrie, Lachlan Gaddie. Replacements – Robbie Robinson, Sandy Fairbairn, Logan Kirk, Finlay Sinclair, Craig Fairbairn, Elliot Ruthven, Harry Makowski, Scott Clark.
Referee – Stephen Turnbull. Assistants – Chelsea Gillespie & Sam Ramage.
-Scorers -
Photos of the Match - with thanks to Malcolm Changleng
