Selkirk 49 - 3 Stewart's Melville: Selkirk run in seven tries to stay up

WITH three games to go, Selkirk made sure of top-flight rugby next season after victory over the already relegated Stewart's Melville at Philiphaugh, writes Alan Lorimer.

Selkirk scored seven tries in a performance that confirmed their Premier 1 status and to which Stewart's Melville had little answer despite never giving up. "We knew that with nothing to lose Stewart's Melville would throw everything at us," said Selkirk's coach, Kevin Barrie.

He added: "We scrummaged particularly well and there was no doubt that the forwards provided great ball for the backs." Particularly impressive in a hard-working Selkirk pack were props Gordon Patterson and Martin Murray and hooker David Grieve, all three of whom carried ball effectively.

You had to feel sorry for Stew-Mel but their cause was not helped by a double yellow for No.8 Blair Tweedie.

Selkirk had to work hard for their early points but they soon had the scoreboard ticking over as centre David Cassidy kicked a penalty goal after non-stop home pressure. Then the crowd pleaser, a solo try from Fraser Harkness, who swatted off three tacklers to power his way to the line, Cassidy adding the conversion.

An exchange of penalties by Cassidy and Stuart Ker kept the gap at ten points before Selkirk produced a wonderful bout of handing that ended with lock Simon Willets' try.

A driven line-out set up a try for Patterson after the break and then when Murray's surge scattered the Stew-Mel defence lock Rory Aglen ran in for a try under the posts.

Selkirk were threatening to run amok as No.8 Andrew Renwick finished off a glorious move before Harkness, Scott Hendrie and replacement Jon Smyth laid on a try for Michael McVie. Cassidy converted and then added the extra points to Selkirk's final effort, a scrum pick-up try from replacement Scott Tomlinson.

Dundee HSFP 43, Boroughmuir 11

DUNDEE HSFP boosted their hopes of a top-five Premiership finish by thumping Boroughmuir at Mayfield.

Cammy Ferguson emerged as the Taysiders' hero with two tries and a series of pinpoint kicks. Their others were bagged by Greg Ryan, Fraser McKenzie, Daryll Russell and Alan Hay. Barry Jones kicked the rest of their points.

Dale Gordon replied for an outclassed Muir side, for whom Graeme Blackhall slotted two penalties.