And Selkirk scored a brace, with awards coming back for both the Selkirk RFC 1st XV and a certain club stalwart.

The nominees for the 2008 team award came from the winners of the four local sports council awards (Berwickshire, Ettrick & Lauderdale, Roxburgh and Tweeddale).

Selkirk had a magnificent season in 2007/08, culminating in promotion to Division One.

Relying heavily on local talent carefully nurtured over the years, the club provides opportunities for all ages to play rugby – from primary to mini-rugby, and High School teams to Youth Club to senior teams, with strong links and cooperation between the stages.

Success at Sevens last year has continued into the new season and their results so far in the 15-a-side game have put them in the top half of division one.

President George Thomson was on hand to collect the award on behalf of his club and told The Wee Paper: "We are very honoured to receive this award.

"It not only recognises the success of the 1st XV over the last season, but the hard work and commitment from everyone involved with the club at all levels over a longer period of time."

One member who has indeed been actively involved with the Philiphaugh club for a lengthy period is fixture secretary Mary Inglis.

And she too received plaudits on Saturday night when she was named as one of the James McLean Trust's Unsung Heroes.

Mary, wife of Selkirk international Jim (Basher) Inglis, has given sterling service to Selkirk RFC over an exceptional period of 45 years.

In the early years she and her team of helpers provided food for 120 players plus referees.

Moving on from tea convenor, she became sponsorship secretary, match ball secretary, and Sevens lunch secretary, before becoming the club's first female match fixture secretary in 2002 (greeted with apprehension at first by the men as it was traditionally a man's job) – a job which she does to this day.

In spite of her many years of service, Mary has no plans to give up her work at the club in the near future.

She told us: "I got involved with the teas at the club when I started courting Jim and it just took off from there.

"We have had some great laughs over the years and it's been lovely seeing our children and grandchildren all get involved too."

Mary was accompanied to the dinner by husband Jim and son-in-law James Heatlie and was presented with her engraved trophy and quaich by former Borders regional councillor Barbara Baker.

Mary is also a member of Selkirk Bowling Club where she is a past lady president. She is an ex-player of Selkirk ladies hockey club, a committee member of the Princess Royal Trust, and in what time she has left, she collects items for Blythswood Care.