Selkirk 22

Dundee High 25

SELKIRK lost further ground on the top two after narrowly failing to get the better of Dundee on Saturday.

Following a frightful start to the match, where the visitors raced into a three-try lead, Selkirk produced some stunning open rugby.

And it looked as though, approaching half time, that they would go on and secure a much-needed victory.

But from the open free-flowing rugby of the first half, an arm-wrestle endured during the second period.

Dundee managed to cross for one final try and take home the points.

The visitors were 20-0 before Selkirk finally clicked into gear with Darren Clapperton showing good pace to race over the line.

Rory Banks' conversion brought the score to 20-7 after 18 minutes.

The pace of the Selkirk backline was evident again just after the 20th minute as Fraser Anderson sprinted behind the posts.

Banks converted before adding a further penalty to reduce the deficit to just three points.

With half time approaching the home pressure led to Josh Welsh going over for Selkirk's third try.

The missed conversion left Selkirk with a narrow 22-20 lead at the interval.

The majority of the large Philiphaugh crowd must have been expecting a further flurry of tries in the second half.

But it was the defences of both teams who were on top for lengthy periods, with the neither backline able to make any significant breaks.

As it looked more and more like next team to score would win, Danny McGinn found a chink of light to score for the visitors.

Despite Selkirk's best efforts, and Dundee reduced to 14 men in the closing stages, the visitors held on for victory.

Selkirk. J Welsh, S Hamilton, F Anderson, D Clapperton, R Nixon, R Banks, C McEwan, L Pettie, N Hall, D Anderson, P Forrest, M Gordon, S Nixon, D Nichol & M Robertson. Reps. B Riddell, M Aziz, J Houston, A McColm & G Ross.