Selkirk 7

Hawick 13

Atholl Innes

at Philiphaugh

SELKIRK kept their Border League hopes alive even in defeat on a mud-strewn Philiphaugh pitch on Saturday.

Players from both sides were hardly recognisable at the end of a tough Booker-sponsored tie which saw Selkirk gain a losing bonus point to keep Hawick’s ambitions for a 50th time success on hold as the Souters, looking for their seventh title, moved on to 11 points to complete their programme with the Greens still having to travel to Peebles and Kelso.

Both sides were understrength due to Club Scotland duties the previous night, and Selkirk skipper Ewan MacDougall was one of the ‘rested’ players who watched from the touchline.

He said: “In the first half, the boys really fronted up in the conditions and we tried to kick them back after the interval, but the penalties made the difference in the end.

“I think we need to look at our performance in the second half with the conditions (wind and rain) behind us.

"We got the losing bonus point and must wait and see where we go from there.”

Hawick brought on some of their experienced campaigners in the second half with Matt Carryer, Ali Weir and Kirk Ford taking to the field as legs tired on both sides.

Head coach George Graham felt his side should have been awarded more penalties by referee Chelsea Gillespie.

He said: "It was difficult on that pitch and no-one could get up any momentum.

“We never got rewarded for our dominance in the first half and our field positions should have been a lot better.

"But it was a poor game in poor conditions.”

Hawick had the benefit of wind in the first half, but it was injury time before Mully Bannerman went over in the left-hand corner for 5-0 interval lead.

Selkirk made better use of the conditions after half-time and Callum McNeill raced clear for the equalising try, converted by David Cassidy, who missed a penalty attempt.

Kirk Ford made light of the conditions to kick ahead and race clear for his side’s second try and Weir then kicked a penalty as time ran out for Selkirk.

Selkirk: D. Cassidy; C. McNeill, R. Cottrell, H. Bithray, L. Berte; C. Anderson, L. Morelle; S. Rankin, J. Bett, B. Riddell, P. Forrest, A. Mackay, R. Nixon, A. Mackay, S. McClymont. Replacements: J. Turnbull,. M. Haldane, J. Griffith.

Hawick: M. Bannerman; R. Mckean, A. Redpath, G. Walker, L. Gordon Wooley; B. Donaldson, G. Welsh; D. Johnstone, R. Hardtegen, C. Bachurzewski, A. Piotrowski, D. Suddon, J. Linton, B. McNeil, S. Fairbairn. Replacements: C. Renwick, M. Renwick, M. Carryer, A. Mitchell, A. Weir, K. Ford.