Friday 27th November 2009

Boroughmuir 24 v 32 Selkirk

Reporter: Mark Furnivall

It is said that teams have to choose to win matches. Unfortunately on this occasion Boroughmuir chose not to. There was no reason why 'Muir could not have won the match especially as their opponents were reduced to 14 men on 20 minutes when Rob Taylor was shown a straight red card for using his feet in a dangerous manner at a ruck. But a lack of composure and leadership on the pitch and a lack of players taking responsibility, allied to some woeful schoolboy errors saw Selkirk regularly cross the 'Muir try line throughout the cold, clear evening as they clinched the bonus point win.

After a hectic opening 5 minutes 'Muir were first to settle and kicked an early penalty to touch on the 5 metre line. A clean take by Grieg Scott was driven over the line but Shaun McMurchy was unable to ground the ball and Selkirk were able to clear after 'Muir infringed at the resultant scrum. 'Muir continued to press but with no result and after 15 minutes it looked as though a little more composure would see the home team able to score the points they needed.

On the quarter hour Selkirk had their first attack of the game and were awarded a penalty for a high tackle on Darren Clapperton by Lynton Brinck. The first moment of farce arrived. Mike Rutherford, the Selkirk stand-off went for goal and as the penalty drifted wide of the posts Elgan O'Donnell stooped to retrieve the ball. Somewhat surprisingly the Kiwi full-back, playing his final game for 'Muir before returning to the land of the long white cloud, failed to gather and knocked the ball on. From the 5 metre attacking scrum Selkirk moved the ball left and full-back Fraser Harkness barged his was over from close range for an unconverted score.

Selkirk were back in the 'Muir 22 almost immediately when teenage wing Darren Clapperton beat Rob Cairns on the outside and only a last ditch interception by Calum Cusiter prevented the second try. But not for long. When the scrum half was driven in to touch the visitors caught and drove from the lineout and prop Rob Taylor was the man to ground the ball. Rutherford added the extras to put Selkirk 12 to the good.

From the kick-off 'Muir formed a ruck and Rob Taylor was found guilty of dangerous use of the foot. The referee was on the wrong side but the near side touch judge had a clear view and called the referee's attention to the incident. A straight red card was deservedly shown. Elgan O'Donnell was unable to take the chance to narrow the gap, missing the penalty.

Before the half hour 'Muir missed a golden opportunity to open their account. Ed Mills broke from his own 22 and chipped past Harkness. He regathered the ball deep in the Selkirk 22 and popped a pass for Cusiter roaring up in support but he was unable to hold the ball and the threat evaporated. 'Muir continued to make repeated mistakes and Selkirk had discovered that their hosts were unsure under the high ball and used the tactic to great effect. A penalty from a high kick which was knocked on saw Rutherford line up another shot at goal and the left footer guided it straight and true for a 0-15 lead.

Every time 'Muir attacked with ball in hand they were making ground against a nervous Selkirk back line but time after time possession was kicked away or squandered by poor handling. Three minutes before the break 'Muir finally got on the scoreboard. After good runs by Malcolm Clapperton and Greig Scott the ball was recycled and spun right where Lynton Brinck took a high pass from Graeme Blackhall and went over in the corner. As he has done many times before, O'Donnell converted from the touchline and 'Muir were back in the game.

To have held the position until half time was the least the coaches could have expected but once again 'Muir made a crucial mistake to let Selkirk score. From a Harkness chip through O'Donnell went to catch the ball and call the mark but dropped it forward where Cusiter picked it up to concede the penalty. Rutherford was again wide with the kick but Mark Hare caught the ball then unaccountably popped it up to the onrushing Andrew Renwick to score the simplest of tries. Rutherford added insult to injury with the conversion fro a 7 - 22 half time lead.

Almost every time Selkirk had encroached in the 'Muir 22 in the first period the hosts had proven their generosity and gifted the Borderers the opportunity for points. A big effort would be needed in the second period to turn things around, even against 14 men.

Selkirk made clear their intent straight after the break, peppering the 'Muir full-back with kicks he repeatedly dropped. A simple but effective tactic which 'Muir had no answer to. The first real opportunity of the half came for 'Muir after a lightning break by Ed Mills saw Ross Nixon, the Selkirk inside centre, sent to the sin-bin at the ruck under the posts. Against 13 men 'Muir took the scrum and Joni Hare was stopped just short. Bronson Ross picked up and drove over. O'Donnell converted to narrow the gap to 8 points and against 13 men - surely.

But it was not to be. After a brief period of ineffectual possession in the Selkirk half 'Muir again infringed and scrum-half Michael McVie launched yet another bomb towards the 'Muir back three. O'Donnell failed to lay a hand on the ball and Darren Clapperton beat Cairns to the bouncing ball and strolled over unopposed under the posts. For the 3rd time 'Muir's amazing inability to deal with kicks had led to a Selkirk try.  Scott Hendrie took over the kicking duties and stretched the lead to 15 points.

'Muir salvaged a bonus point by scoring two further tries, the first from a short range drive by Nick Fraser, 'Muir's most impressive player on the night, and late on, an inside burst from Ed Mills but with both conversions missed and a penalty by Scott Hendrie in between, 'Muir remained outwith a losing bonus point. It may seem harsh to say so but this was all that 'Muir deserved from the game.

There is no doubt who showed the composure in this game and they weren't wearing green and blue. Selkirk demonstrably had more, spirit, more desire to win and, it has to be said, more talent on this occasion. 'Muir showed no appetite for a relegation dog fight but they need to realise right here and now - that is what they are in.

Boroughmuir : Elgan O'Donnell: Ed Mills, Malcolm Clapperton (c), Mark Hare, Rob Cairns: Greg Cottrell, Calum Cusiter: Nick Fraser, Shaun McMurchy, Bronson Ross: Lynton Brinck, Greig Scott: Mike Stalley, Cammy Orr, Joni Hare. Subs Used: Freddie Lait, Scott Wilson, Graeme Blackhall - Not Used: Jamie Scott, Stuart McGee