Selkirk v Melrose 4/10/25
Selkirk v Melrose – 4/10/25
Following a week’s “Welfare” break this Round 6 Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership match doubled up for Border League points. Courtesy of Storm Amy a strong blustery wind blew down the valley towards the Gala end of the pitch and Melrose kicked off with the wind advantage. Despite having most of the initial pressure it was ten minutes in before the first points were scored with Rory McHaffie kicking three points from a scrum penalty in front of the posts. It was encouraging, at this stage of the match, to find Melrose in the lead and not two scores in arrears! With 23 minutes played, with penalty advantage from another scrum offence, a series of plays developed ending with Jack Dobie crashing over for a try converted by McHaffie. A minute short of the break Selkirk opened their account following a scrum 15m out from which a series of picks and drives developed with Kieran Westlake scoring an unconverted try in the left corner.
Half time – Selkirk 5 Melrose 10
Two minutes into the second half a Melrose box kick out of defence, held up by the wind, was retrieved by Bruce Riddell who advanced before passing to Brodie Allan who slipped through sloppy Melrose defence to score, to the right of the posts, a try converted by Morris Clementson. Four minutes later McHaffie broke from deep belting up-field before off-loading to Logan Karl. When he was caught a series of plays left developed before returning right with the ball eventually reaching Finn Douglas whose try in the right corner was excellently converted by McHaffie. At 52 minutes Melrose took, and won, a scrum for a penalty on the left. A series of plays developed and when the ball emerged from a pile of bodies under the posts Douglas Crawford grabbed it and nipped over the pile for a try converted by McHaffie. At the start of the final quarter Selkirk took a tap penalty under the posts with the ball being passed left then back right with Andrew McColm emerging from a pile of bodies having scored a try which Ross Wolfenden converted. Ten minutes later a high floated pass right to the wing with a series of plays back left gave the ball to Wolfenden letting him nip through a gap in the Melrose defence to score and convert the Selkirk bonus point try giving them a two-point lead. But Melrose were almost not finished! Another fine break by McHaffie made a good 50m before he passed to Karl. The centre was caught, but a series of plays developed with the ball, reaching Adam Arkley who bashed his way all of 15m to the line, but, unfortunately, he was held up over the line and Melrose failed to gain victory, and for the second match running, were thwarted in the dying seconds.
Selkirk 26 Melrose 24
Selkirk – Callum Anderson, Josh Welsh, Ben Pickles, Brodie Alan, Ross McKnight, Morris Clementson, Hugo Alderson, Ryder Joyce, Corey Tait, Bruce Riddell, Andrew McColm, Jack Fisher, Monroe Job, Taylor Wilson, Kieran Westlake. Replacements – James Bett, Shaun MacFarlane, Mac Rutherford, Cameron Forster, Oliver McClymont, Ross Nixon, Ross Wolfenden.
Melrose – Rory McHaffie, Finn Douglas, Declan Mulcahy, Logan Karl, Paddy Anderson, Roly Brett, Douglas Crawford, Jack Dobie, Logan Kirk, Zen Szwagrzak, Elliot Ruthven, Angu Runciman©, Oli Furness, Sam Derrick, Ru Campbell. Replacements – Sam Rainey, Adam Arkley, Oli Anderson, Henno Bowe, Scot Clark, Callum Ramm, Donald Crawford.
Referee – Sam O’Neil
CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO VIEW ANDY MCLEAN’S PHOTOS FROM THE SELKIRK GAME