Selkirk 28 - 4 Currie: Selkirk mark top-flight return in style

Published on Sunday 31 August 2008 23:27

FEW clubs will relish a visit to Philiphaugh this season after Selkirk returned to the top-flight of Scottish rugby in style.

Four tries, a bonus point and a second-half fightback which thrilled a large and vocal crowd gave the home side the perfect launchpad into Premiership Division 1 and coach Kevin Barrie believed that his players' commitment, fitness and passion were key elements in an exhilarating performance.

"We were always going to be up against a big pack, but I thought we played some good rugby after the interval when we spread the ball wide and were very creative," said the former Jed-Forest and Hawick coach, who also had a spell at Malleny Park.

"I always knew that we could come back (Selkirk trailed 21-8 at the break] and our fitness levels stretched Currie, who started to make mistakes as we put on the pressure.

"But I have always said that we have to win our home games for it will always be hard on the road."

Currie, who won their first ever championship in the 2006/07 season, had dominated the first half and perhaps felt that the game had been secured.

"We lost our shape completely in the second half, became too nervous and let Selkirk back into it," said the Edinburgh side's coach Ally Donaldson.

Tries from Johnnie Smith and Mike Norton for Currie were countered by a Lee Jones touchdown in the opening 40 minutes. However, two tries in the space of four minutes from Ryan Crockatt and Fraser Harkness gave Selkirk the impetus and Michael McVie's bonus-point winning score and last-minute penalty – after Smith had missed a chance to recapture the lead for the visitors – ensured an excellent start for the Borders club, which has again put its faith in local players.

Scorers: Selkirk: Tries: Jones, Crockatt, Harkness, McVie. Con: McVie. Pens: McVie (2). Currie: Tries: Smith, Norton. Con: Smith. Pens: Smith (3). Drop goal: Fouche.

Selkirk: F Harkness; J Hendrie, R Nixon, A Lyall, L Jones; G Craig, M McVie; G Patterson, I Walling, M Murray, R Aglen, E Gauche, N Darling, S Tomlinson, R Crockatt. Subs used: G Blair, R Taylor, A Renwick.

Currie: J Smith; D Fife, K McShane, G White, J Harris; M Fouche, B Skipper; A Reekie, A Mallon, A Hamilton, M Murphy, A Adam, S Burton, R Weston, M Cairns. Subs used: K Whalen, J Thomson, M Norton, M Erskine, F Strachan.

Referee: G Gordon.

Attendance: 1,500