Selkirk 21 - 6 Edinburgh Accies: Selkirk's need for points sees off Accies

Published on Friday 13 November 2009 22:01

SELKIRK were in more desperate need of the points, and at Philiphaugh last night they made the key players count.

There was a surprise ahead of kick-off as Selkirk elected to keep their professionals on the bench and rely on a majority of home-bred talent. But the arrival of Jon Smyth, their New Zealand lock, Sean Crombie and Jim Thompson made all the difference.

The promise of heavy rain and gales failed to materialise as Selkirk kicked off, bit it was Accies who had the early pressure without ever threatening before David O'Hagan pulled a penalty wide from 30 metres.

The game ebbed and flowed without either side gaining ascendancy. Selkirk won another penalty for a ruck offence in 26 minutes, from 40 metres Scott Hendrie kicked his side ahead. But Accies' response was swift, and when Gordon Paterson was yellow carded for handling on the ground, O'Hagan levelled with a penalty.

Within a minute, Accies lost Ed Stuart to a yellow card for offside. Hendrie lined up another penalty to put his side back in front.

The match had lived up as Selkirk enjoyed territorial advantage, but were too prone to losing the ball in possession until the 58th minutes when Johnston pounced for the opening try. Hendrie's conversion was wide.

O'Hagan narrowed the gap with this second penalty.

Veteran Murray was driven over for Selkirk's second try, but again Hendrie pulled the conversion wide.

Selkirk needed a third try to make the game safe as they took the game towards injury time and it came from Andrew Renwick. The win moved the home side four places up the league, but with still a lot of hard work to do.

Scorers: Selkirk: Tries, Johnston, Murray, Renwick. Pens, Hendrie (2).

Edinburgh Accies: Pens, O'Hagan (2).

Selkirk: F. Harkness; S. Hendrie, A. Dunbar, R. Armstrong, L. Jones; G. Craig, M. McVie; G. Patterson, D. Grieve, R. Taylor, R. Aglen, S. Willett, N. Darling, C. Johnston, A. Renwick. Subs: D. Cassidy, J. Thompson, J. Smyth, S. Crombie, M. Murray.

Edinburgh Accies: T. Brown; C. Dickie, I. Berthinussen, R. Browne, R. Drummond; D. O'Hagan, J. Letham; C. Murray, M. Strachan, J. Henderson, E. Stuart, G. Campbell, R. Snape, A. Lamb, D. Teague. Subs: R. Bonnar, S. Wilson, T. Jackson, D. Cherry, D. Denton.

Referee: J. Matthew.

OTHER RESULT

Scottish Hydro Electric Premiership

Division 2: Gala 22, Haddington 5.