Selkirk 14

Marr 13

Callum Hodgson

at Philiphaugh

WET and windy Philiphaugh served up the perfect antidote to beat the weather blues on Saturday.

In a thrilling encounter which went down to the wire, Selkirk deservedly emerged as winners.

Marr certainly took the game to the hosts early on with some eye-catching drives.

And it only took the visitors just six minutes to edge in front as they mastered the conditions well.

A well-rehearsed line-out led to unstoppable rolling drive allowing Ross Miller to touch down.

Liam Mcloughlin's conversion gave the visitors a 7-0 lead.

Mcloughlin added a further three points with a penalty from near the half-way line.

Selkirk worked their way back into the match and when the opportunity to attack came they were rewarded with the try.

Scott McClymont gathered a loose ball inside his own half to sprint away from the defence and score in the corner.

Rory Banks couldn't add the extras from the touchline.

Ferocious tackling from both teams prevented any further clean breaks as the half wore on.

And Selkirk had to content themselves with a distant penalty, which Banks landed to take them within two points.

A further well-executed David Cassidy penalty from distance edged Selkirk in front approaching the hour.

But Marr responded with Mcloughlin adding three points of his own.

Despite some enterprising attacks by the Selkirk backs they couldn't find a way through a resolute Marr defence.

And with time running out Cassidy came to the rescue with another successful penalty to restore the single-point advantage.

Marr had four minutes to rescue the win but Selkirk's defence, with man-of-the-match Ross Nixon leading by example, held firm.

Selkirk: D Cassidy, J Welsh, F Anderson, D Clapperton, R Nixon, R Banks, S Tough, D Nichol, S McClymont, S Nixon, P Forrest, A McKay, B Riddell, J Bett & L Pettie. Reps: A McColm, J Anderson, J Houston, C McColm & R Cottrell.