Walkerburn 34

Old Crocks 10

Colin McCudden

at Caberston Haugh

SATURDAY saw Caberston Haugh host the annual Old Crocks game with the current Walkerburn RFC team playing a team of past players with some weel kent faces strutting their stuff on the pitch.

This usually ends in an interesting game as some players are familiar with the laws from the 80s, some players are familiar with the current laws, and probably the majority are not that familiar with the laws at all.

The Old Crocks were captained by club legend Eric Anderson, and incredibly included 69 year old Davie Dalgleish as well as current coach James Grieve.

The team was bolstered by a solid group of veterans who were not quite so long in the tooth and a couple of youngsters thrown in. The Walkerburn team included the three Mathews brothers – Sam, James and Rob – as far as anyone could remember this was the first time three brothers took the field in the same Burn team since the Andersons in the 80s/90s although I am happy to be corrected.

The youngest brother made his mark early as soon as the ball was thrown wide, breaking through and leaving the Old Crocks fullback grasping at thin air on his way to the try line.

However the Old Crocks pack was proving a handful for the Burn and Reese Wilson scored in the corner after a couple of breenges from the old boys.

A chip beyond the Old Crocks defence took a Selkirk stot and resulted in a Walkerburn try for Chris – Whitey – Stansfield, and this was followed by a try in the corner for James Mathews as they figured out that joy was to be had when spreading the ball wide. .

The first try of the second half saw Sam Mathews complete the hat trick for the Mathews family finishing off a break by stand-off Sandy Walker.

This will lead to future family disputes on who scored the best try. Scott MacIntosh struck back for the Old Crocks with a well taken try after a period of sustained pressure. However the day belonged to the current team, as Jack McDonald scored a try in what is now known as Jack’s corner and Cameron Bowers scored his first try for the club marking his welcome return to fitness. Throughout this was a well contested contest.

The club would like to thank all players old and new who turned up to play as well as the many supporters who came along and contributed to an entertaining game and a very successful day.

This Saturday Walkerburn are away to Ross High 2nds.