THE cup provided some light relief from a grim league campaign as Selkirk eased to a comfortable 47-7 victory at home to Musselburgh at Philliphaugh on Saturday.

The draw might have been kind to the Souters, pitting them against lower league opposition. But these ties can always be a potential banana skin. And with Selkirk's relegation from the BT Premiership already confirmed, the East Lothian outfit might have had designs on an upset.

Such notions soon bit the dust.

South African prop Lwando Mabenge got the scoring underway for Selkirk and although the visitors levelled up soon after, that is as close as they got all afternoon.

A brace from another South African, Dashton Wellman in his last game for the club gave Selkirk a 21-7 advantage going into the interval, and it was a lead they never looked like surrendering.

And early half time was called owing to an injury to Musselburgh's Marco Mladenovic. The Cypriot international flanker was taken to hospital as a precaution, but was released later that evening.

Darren Clapperton's try soon after the restart following a flowing team move mean that the Souters picked up from where they left off in the first half. Selkirk were clearly in the ascendancy and putting the hapless visitors to the sword was cathartic, helping to banish some of the memories of this season's travails.

Clapperton himself added another before tries from Callum Marshall and a late charge from Angus Ducket rounded the afternoon off in fine style.

Selkirk might have come up short this season, but on this showing they will have little to fear from the drop into League 1.

The win ensures another clash with lower league opposition,when they will face League 3 side GHK. Relegation and a cup final in the same season? Stranger things have happened.

Selkirk:  J. Welsh, R. Nixon, L. MacLennan, C. MacDougall, D. Clapperton, R. Banks, D. Wellman, L. Mabenge, J. Bett, C. Graur, P. Forrest, M. Gordon, E. MacDougall, L. du Plessis, C. Marshall. Subs: F. Anderson, D. Swinbanks, F. Tetart, A. Renwick, A. Duckett.