The visitors had trounced Selkirk 55-17 in October up at Laigh Bent, but there was a steeliness about the home team’s approach to this return fixture that indicated the contest would be far from so one-sided this time around.

A marker was laid down as early as the second minute when Selkirk wing-forward Scott McClymont held his nerve to halt Hamilton’s giant lock Josh White in his tracks with a courageous tackle, as the rampaging Bulls forward threatened to burst clean through the home defence.

The visitors suffered an early setback when left wing Callum Brown had to be led from the field concussed. Even so the Hamilton threequarters still had the edge over their opponents, and a missed first-time tackle saw centre John Rogerson run in the visitors’ first try, converted by Liam Bell.

After 36 minutes Hamilton increased their lead through an Adam Ryan try, again converted by Bell. It looked as though Selkirk had cut the deficit when Scott McClymont went over in the left-hand corner, but referee Michael Todd correctly ruled the Selkirk player had made a double movement when taking the ball over the line and disallowed the try.

A minute before the interval Selkirk did manage to cross the line – Chaney Willemse (later named Selkirk’s man of the match) charging down Bell’s clearance kick then quickly following up to dive on the loose ball for an opportunist try. Darren Knox’s conversion made the halftime score 14-7 in Hamilton’s favour.

After the break Selkirk ramped up the tempo and intensity of their play. The home back row of Willemse, McClymont and Matt Robertson took the game to their opponents at every opportunity - through direct running in attack or by dint of some five-star cover tackles. Willemse’s try-saving tackle on Danny McRoberts in the 65th minute proved a game-changer.

Four minutes into the second half Kieran Monks burst down the left touchline for a try following good support play by Ally Lyall, and shortly afterwards Darren Knox successfully converted a penalty to put the home team ahead for the first time in the match at 15-14.

With some of Hamilton’s bigger forwards beginning to tire, Selkirk kept up the pressure and were rewarded when full-back Callum McEwan scampered over in the corner for Selkirk’s third try after the visitors had lost possession in midfield.

Four minutes into injury time hooker Ross Purves added the 'coup de grace’ when he launched a probing grubber kick towards the left-hand corner. The ball was picked up by a Hamilton defender, who was immediately wrapped up by Kieran Monks, and when the ball spun loose Purves pounced to touch down Selkirk’s bonus point try.

Full marks go to Selkirk 'A’ for a fully committed performance against a well organised and confident Hamilton team. Good shifts were put in by the whole squad, with Michael Waldron and Scott McDonald both showing up well when the chips were down.

Afterwards Selkirk 'A’ coach Fraser Jack praised his players for keeping their focus for the full 80 minutes. “We changed our style of play in the second half, exerting good pressure and getting in their faces. It’s very satisfying to be able to turn them over given how comprehensively they defeated us earlier in the season, and now the boys must take this momentum forward to the Hillhead game this Saturday.” Selkirk: C. McEwan, L. Martin, A. Lyall, J. Hendrie, K. Monks, D. Knox, S. Tough, K. Thomson, R. Purves, M. Waldron, S. McDonald, R. Cook, S. McClymont, C. Willemse, M. Robertson. Replacements: C. Bruce, S. Mackay, W. McClymont, J. Turnbull.