Selkirk A 18

Stirling Co 2nds 38

STIRLING County won promotion to BT Reserve League National 1 courtesy of Saturday’s victory at Philiphaugh - but it was the home team who won the plaudits by refusing to buckle in the face of far bigger and stronger opponents.

“The boys have been punching above their weight all season,” Selkirk coach Jason Hendrie said after the match, “and today managed to hold their own against a side who’ve been sweeping all before them.

“I thought our scrum held up particularly well, given the disparity in weight between the packs. It’s pleasing to see how well this side has gelled over the past few weeks, given the difficult start we had to our league campaign.”

The match saw Selkirk’s Craig MacDougall make a successful return from injury, forming a strong centre partnership with Douglas Swinbanks. Full-back Rory Hamilton caught the eye with some dazzling runs, while scrum-half Jackson Wallace helped steady the ship with another five-star display both in attack and defence.

Stirling took an early lead through tries by Stuart Imrie and Morgan Whitton, but Selkirk countered with a fine try by Kerr Gerrard, following breaks from Jy Griffin and Jimmy Stephen.

A penalty from Rory Banks made the halftime score 12-8 to the visitors.

Stirling increased their lead through a brace of tries from flanker Douglas Westwood, both converted by Ross Drummond, and Selkirk then suffered a setback when hooker Ruairi Wilson took a head knock and had to leave the field.

Nevertheless the home side stayed in touch thanks to a Banks drop-goal and a well-worked Alan Rutter try.

Stirling put the issue beyond doubt when Stephan Yarrow and Drummond crossed for further tries.

Selkirk’s ‘man of the match’ award went to Jackson Wallace.

Selkirk A: R. Hamilton, J. Griffin, D. Swinbanks, C. MacDougall, K. Gerrard, R. Banks, J. Wallace, R. Reilly, R. Wilson, B. Riddell, J. Stephen, M. Stanners, R. Cook, S. Mackenzie, R. Purves. Replacements: R. Shiel, J. Hendrie, A. Rutter.