Published: Wednesday, 2nd April, 2008 11:00
Souters move on to Biggar things
By Atholl Innes
Comments (0)
Print Article
Selkirk players celebrate at the final whistle after a stunning victory over Biggar.
SELKIRK rugby is on the ‘up’ following what was described as a stunning victory on Saturday at Hartreemill.
The Souters may have missed out on the Premiership 2 title to West of Scotland on points differential.
But that did not prevent the champagne corks popping in the dressing room after their 15-0 win over Biggar.
“Here you are,” said Rugby Director Dennis Henderson as he handed out the champagne in plastic cups! “That was a fantastic performance and from a town of just 5000, a great achievement.
“And Biggar (who would have been promoted in they had won) were magnanimous in their support. Coach Aaron Collins came over and shook our hands.”
Selkirk finished joint top of Premiership 2 with West, each on 84 points, with Biggar third on 76, and ironically the Souters had scored 19 wins and three defeats to West’s 18 victories and four losses. But West had an extra four bonus points.
That, however, could not hide the joy in the Selkirk camp.
President George Thomson said: “What a fantastic day and what a great achievement, I am very proud of the team and a great day for the club and for the town. We played the right game for the conditions.”
Coach Rodney Pow told me: “I thought we controlled the game from the start. It was a humbling experience to see the boys do so well. We destroyed them up front and that was key for us.
“We went out to nullify the threat of Eday Manawaiti and we did that.
“I think we also destroyed them with our kicking and we were much better than them at that.
“It was a big, big effort and we deserved it.
“Kevin (Barrie) and I have been able to find a rich vein of form and the players started to believe in themselves. The commitment from the team was just fantastic and we gave nothing away at all. Our tackling was immense and we as coaches could not ask for more.
“Our fitness levels were high and that was helped by also training for the sevens.
“It was a tremendous result, and while we are disappointed at not winning the championship and we are promoted.”
Pow went on to praise the crowd, who swelled the crowd to close on 2000 and the Common Riding songs bellowed out from the touchline and later from the bar in the Biggar clubrooms.
But the final word came from Henderson: ‘Fifteen of the guys who took the field grew up together through school and the Youth Club team.”
Selkirk will now concentrate on retaining their Kings of the Sevens title following wins in the autumn at Kelso and also their own tournament.
That begins on Sunday with the Gala Sevens at Netherdale.
And they are also in contention in the BSPC Border League where Hawick are the next opponents at Mansfield Park on a date still to be fixed.
There were celebrations at Gala, too, where a Lee Kibble try ensured a bonus point to pip Peebles for the title in a close-run finish to Premiership 3.
“We were glad to be promoted the previous week and now to win the title,” said coach Richie Gray. “I always said that it would a hard league to get out off, and Gary (Parker) and I are delighted to be back in Premiership 2.”
Del.icio.us
Digg
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon
Further Details
Tongue-tied 'Rose need to get talking