AN early kick-off didn’t distract Selkirk A’s players from the task in hand in Saturday’s friendly against Peebles 2nds at The Gytes.

The new-look Philiphaugh team continued their positive start to the season with another hard-fought win, and coaches Fraser Jack and Graham Marshall must have been pleased by the work rate and application shown by their young charges.

No-one typified this ‘can-do’ attitude better than Selkirk hooker Ross Purves. Work commitments had prevented utility threequarter Darren Knox from arriving at the ground before halftime, but Purves slotted in effortlessly at inside centre, before proving equally adept at filling in at scrum-half in the second half.

Playing against the wind in the first half, the visitors found themselves 7-0 down at the break after having to defend their line for long periods. It was a different story after the interval, however, with fly-half Rory Banks showing his class by alternating long, touch-finding kicks with sharp line breaks.

Selkirk levelled the scores with a try from newcomer Jack Elliot, his first for the club, and took the lead with a try by Alistair Lyall, both scores being converted by Banks. Although Peebles cut the deficit with a second try, the visitors made sure of victory with a fine individual try from Ruairi Wilson, whose powerful break split the home defence.

Lock John Everitt made a welcome return to Selkirk’s ranks, while number eight Scott McDonald gave a typically solid display and flanker Scott McClymont also caught the eye.

SELKIRK – J. Elliot, L. Martin, R. Purves, A. Lyall, K. Monks, R. Banks, A. Scott, C. Turnbull, R. Wilson, K. Thomson, J. Everitt, R. Cook, S. McClymont, P. Anderson, S. McDonald. Replacements: D. Knox, S. Mackay.