Selkirk 15

Jedforest 24

JED extended their advantage over promotion rivals Selkirk with a hard-fought victory at Philiphaugh.

Both teams entertained the large crowd with open running rugby.

And the game hung in the balance for long periods.

But it was the Riverside Park team who maintained their charge for a Premiership place next season with some stout defending and clinical finishing.

Powerful captain Paulo Ferreira barged over for the opening try after a bright start by the visitors.

And Selkirk's defence was further tested before Rory Banks reduced the lead with a penalty.

A neat Ross Nixon kick through led to Josh Welsh somehow touching down in the corner to give the hosts a slender 8-5 lead on the half hour.

Despite Lewis Young twice going close in the near corner, Selkirk hung on to the lead at the interval.

Jed edged back in front early in the second half as Monty Mitchell showed great feet to dance through the defence.

And within five minutes Sean Goodfellow had made it 17-8 as he raced in from the back of the scrum.

But Selkirk were far from out of it.

Inside the final quarter Peter Forrest dived over the line following sustained pressure. Welsh's conversion made it 17-15 with only 10 minutes remaining.

And there was a brief moment when it looked like Clinton Wagman was about to sprint clear only for the covering Jed defenders to pull him down 20 metres short of the line.

Jed were to have the final say with Goodfellow breaking through a gap to score his second try deep in injury time.

Selkirk. J Welsh, C Wagman, F Anderson, A McColm, R Nixon, R Banks, C McEwan, E McDougall, S Nixon, D Nichol, P Forrest, A Renwick, D Anderson, J Bett & L Pettie. Reps. B Riddell, S Dama, M Gordon, G Ross & G Craig.