Selkirk 23

BORDER LEAGUE



ROLL on Monday, May 12.

The Wee Paper can reveal that this is the date for the 2008 Border League final, and Selkirk will be there.

The Souters staged a remarkable second-half comeback to defeat Hawick at Mansfield Park on Tuesday night. The prize for the 23-22 victory was a place in the Borders Solicitors Property Centre Border League final against either Jed-Forest or Melrose at Poynder Park.

Selkirk have already secured promotion to Scottish rugby's top flight and have their second consecutive Kings of the Sevens title in their sights, but a Border League title would crown their season.

Speaking to The Wee Paper this week, Selkirk coach Rodney Pow said: "There is still a long way to go as far as the sevens is concerned, so we are not counting our chickens there.

But to win the Border League title would be a great end to the season.

"We were a wee bit disappointed to be denied the league title, especially after winning all those games, so to win the Border League would be a great boost to everyone.

"On Tuesday, I think the boys got a bit of a shock in the first half, but as they have done all season, they adjusted themselves mentally and in the second it was all about us."

Former Greens man Ross Armstrong broke through a couple of tackles for a fine opening try for Selkirk after only seven minutes in Tuesday night's showdown, a promising start for the visitors who had to win the game to reach the final in successive seasons.

The score stirred Hawick into action and tries from Steven Anderson (2) and Neil Renwick, with two conversions and a penalty from Craig Neish, saw the scoreline at 22-5 to the hosts at half time.

However, pride is never far away from the surface within the Selkirk squad, and early in the second half they started to gain territory, which paid dividends, with Cassidy landing two penalties.

All of a sudden, there was a sniff of a possible comeback and the turning point came when fly-half Gavin Craig made a stunning break from midfield and left the Hawick defence in tatters. Craig beat several tackles before feeding the scoring pass to left winger, Ross Nixon.

Their tails were now well and truly up and Scott Hendrie finished off a slick handling move with Selkirk's third try, which Cassidy converted.

The final 15 minutes were quite frantic, with Hawick looking capable of scoring from deep.

However, the Selkirk defence was up to the task and Craig almost added a fourth try before being scythed down with a brave last-gasp tackle.

Galashiels referee Andrew McMenemy signalled full-time, with the Souters victorious by the narrowest of margins.