Selkirk RFC (26) vs Kelso RFC (6) - RBS Premier 2 - Stage 2

Pre-Match Report

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Match Report

Around 2pm , there seemed to be a reluctance form the players to go outside to warm up. That may have been because we were in the middle of a white out. The good old Scottish weather, however, improved and the game started in bright sunshine with glorious blue skies but with a strong and very cold wind blowing down the softish looking pitch towards the town.

Both sides were at virtually full strength and Selkirk was out to seek revenge for the poor performance and defeat down at Poynder Park in October. In the end, it was a comfortable win for Selkirk, who may have been disappointed not to get a bonus point for 4 tries.

It was a game punctuated by penalties ( 28 to be exact!), with Ian Wallace feeling the wrath of the referee after only 13 minutes when he was yellow carded having been, allegedly, responsible for all of the first 3 penalties conceded b y Kelso. As is normal, the short handed team loses points whilst the player is in the bin. Selkirk capitalised on the indiscretion and scored a try immediately from a peel round the front of the line out for hooker Peter Mirrielees to score in the corner.

Kelso had chances with Frankie Robson, Donald Seed and James Stevenson all driving for the line. Selkirk’s defence was holding up well but Kelso opened  its account with a penalty by Kieran Wilkinson when Selkirk went to ground 30 metres out. He repeated the medicine when a Selkirk scrum collapsed about 25 meters out, to take Kelso into a 6-5 lead. This lead was, however, short lived as Selkirk took a quick penalty and drove at Kelso and then spun the ball out to the left where winger, Callum McColm, scored in the corner. David Cassidy missed the conversion but half time arrived with Selkirk having gone into a 10-6 lead.

Kelso had not made the most of the wind advantage in the first half and, unless there was a much improved performance, it looked as if it was going to be a long hard afternoon in the second half.

It was not to be, however, as Cassidy, who had failed to find his range with his kicking in the first have, kicked three penalties as Kelso continued to infringe. Even a bonus point for Kelso looked unlikely now. They made the changes with Ewan Ford going off with an injury, to be replaced by David Lowrie; Ian Wallace’s day did not get any better when he went off with a cut above the eye and was replaced by Stef Carnegie. The props were replaced by rota with Stuart Lowrie coming on for Keiran Cooney who in turn came on for Ali Marsh as the game unfolded. Murray Hastie also came on for his first team debut in replacing Gregg Minto.

Selkirk sealed the game when Fraser Harkness made a break and passed on to Callum Marshall who raced towards the posts only to be stopped short. Captain, Neil Darling, was on hand, however, to go over for the try, which was converted by Cassiday to take Selkirk to a 26-6 lead.

Kelso tried hard as the end approached but like during the major part of the game, nothing went right for them. Knock ons, turn overs conceded. It was not to be and, in all honesty, we were second best at most things on the day. Both teams were guilty of good play followed by errors with knock ons or no support for the ball carrier.

I have to say the penalties were evenly distributed but who wants that number of penalties in a game?

This loss, and the other results, meant that Kelso dropped to fourth in Group C level with Whitecraigs. Next week sees us at home to Hillhead/ Jordanhill in a must win game. So, no pressure, then!

Kelso team: Kieran Wilkinson, Gregg Minto, Richard Minto, Kevin Utterson. Frankie Robson, Mark Chester, Andy Tait, Keiran Cooney, chris Riddell, Ali Marsh, Ian Wallace, Donald Seed, Gareth Riddell, Ewan Ford. James Stevenson.

Reps: Stuart Lowrie, David Lowrie, Stef Carnegie and Murray Hastie

Scorer:Kieran Wilkinson 2 penalties