Friendly

HAWICK Linden lost their 100 per cent record for the season to Selkirk A in a hard-fought game under the lights at Philiphaugh on Friday night.

For their part, Selkirk coaches Ewen Robbie and John Rutherford were keen to restore a winning mentality into their players’ minds following the team’s slip-up in their last fixture at Kelso.

The home side started with a bang, opening the scoring after only two minutes. Line-out ball was released to the backs and Jason Hendrie made the break to scythe through a gap and touch down at the posts allowing an easy conversion for Darren Scott.

The Linden responded after quarter of an hour. Graeme Anderson hit up in the centre and the recycled ball was switched blind. From the resulting ruck, scrum-half Greig Cottrell felt the gap and sneaked through for the try. Barry Sutherland’s conversion tied the scores.

The Souters hit back almost straight away. Untidy ball at the back of a Linden scrum in their own 22 was pounced on by David Gray who rolled over for Selkirk’s second try with Darren Scott’s conversion putting the home side 14-7 ahead.

Shortly after referee Ian Fox suffered a hamstring injury. Fortunately local whistler Iain Rodgerson was in the crowd and, after a quick change of clothing – apart from retaining his fetching ankle socks – play was again under way.

A Sutherland penalty, awarded for offside, reduced the gap to four points after the break but play was becoming rather stop-start and as time wore on the visitors began to play most of the game in the Selkirk half. A number of kickable penalties were turned down in an attempt to go for the match-winning score but the Linden just couldn’t find a way through.

z FOR the first time since September 2002, Selkirk is able to field a 3rd XV this Saturday.

While the club’s ‘A’ side takes on Melrose 2nds in a Border Farm Supplies Championship fixture on the main Philiphaugh pitch, Selkirk 3rds will face Melrose 3rds in a friendly match over the road on the Burnmill playing field. Both games kick off at 1pm.