Currie Chieftains ‘A’ 26

Selkirk ‘A’ 33

John Smail

at Malleny Park

IN a game that had more twists and turns than an Ian Rankin novel, Selkirk ‘A’ continued to confound expectations by recording their second straight bonus point win in Tennent’s East Reserve League Division 1.

Underlining just how far this young Selkirk team has come, in last season’s corresponding league fixture at Malleny Park, Currie ‘A’ had romped to a massive 78-5 victory.

Even allowing for the fact Currie couldn’t field a front row on Saturday, which meant scrums were uncontested and the home side had to play with 14 men, the more streetwise Malleny Park men still proved dangerous opponents.

Playing with the strong wind at their backs, Selkirk went 13-0 up through a brace of sweetly struck penalties by Scott Clark and a try from the tireless Donald Nichol.

Although the home team replied with a score from Fraser Sayers, Nichol’s second try, plus one from Jy Griffin, put Selkirk 25-5 ahead at the interval.

The presence of experienced Kiwi fly-half Henry Bithray - back for his second season with Selkirk - proved crucial for the visitors, with his siege-gun kicks always able to relieve pressure on the home try line.

With the wind now at their backs, tries by Haggart, Kororua and Jones gave Currie fresh heart. However, a barnstorming touchdown by Robbie Reilly maintained the visitors’ narrow 30-26 lead.

It was left to the unfaltering boot of Scott Clark to put the issue beyond doubt with another superb penalty kick in injury time, setting the seal on a deserved victory that will do much to bolster the confidence of this young Philiphaugh team.

Selkirk A. M. Rutter, H. McDonnell, J. Griffin, L. Martin, N. Armstrong, H. Bithray, S. Clark, M. Waldron, M. Francis, K. Thomson, L. Cassidy, J. Turnbull, R. Purves, M. Mackay, D. Nichol. Replacements: – C. Rhind, B. Purves, D. Cassidy, L. Blair, S. Brister, M. Stanners, R. Reilly.