High-flying Selkirk surpass rugby
writer's expectations to land 'Team of Year' award
READ ALL ABOUT IT! Selkirk
1st XV vice-captain Fraser Harkness (left) and skipper Neil Darling find out about the team's 'Rugby Roll of Honour'
nomination in the "Scotland On Sunday" newspaper.
"I'll eat my words, I swear
I will, If I am wrong, I'll pay the bill…"
THESE lyrics appear in a song by the late, great Irish rock guitarist Rory Gallagher, but they could equally apply
to "Scotland On Sunday" rugby writer Iain Morrison, who predicted in his newspaper column back in August
that Selkirk would finish at "the ugly end" of Premier One in season 2008/2009. Five months on, and the
former Scotland internationalist has had to re-assess his view of the Philiphaugh side - so much so that last weekend
Iain Morrison chose Selkirk as his 2008 'Team of the Year'.
The rugby writer had the good grace to admit that his earlier prediction was well wide of the mark, explaining
to readers the reason for his change of heart:- TEAM
OF THE YEAR: SELKIRK
'The newly promoted Borders side showed what can be done with local talent and a heap of enthusiasm, the template
for all Border teams, hell, the template for all Scottish clubs! Selkirk were predicted to struggle, not least
by me, in their first season back in Premier One but instead they sit a proud third in the table with a game in
hand over the team above them. Look and learn. Runners-up: The Scotland 'A' team.'
(Iain Morrison, "Scotland On Sunday", December 28, 2008)
No-one was happier to see Iain Morrison change his mind than Selkirk RFC president George Thomson. "I well
remember reading Iain's comments just before we staged the 2008 Halbro Selkirk Sevens," George told the selkirkrfc.com
web site this week, "and to be honest I felt a little bit miffed! In fact I referred to Iain's comments in
my President's Message, which appeared in the match programme for our game against Currie on August 30, when I
wrote -
'Last weekend "Scotland on Sunday" predicted that Selkirk will finish up 'at the ugly end' of this season's
Premier One table. No doubt captain Neil Darling and his players will, over the coming months, do everything in
their power to show the newspaper's rugby pundit the inaccuracy of his forecast!'
George continued: "Having won 11 of their first 15 games in Premier One, I think the players have proved my
point, demonstrating that anyone who writes off Selkirk does so at his or her peril. Full marks go to Iain Morrison
though, for being prepared to admit he got it wrong. I hope the Selkirk team will now be able live up to their
new billing in 2009!"
Baby Salumé's safe arrival
proves perfect Christmas present for Eddie and Mel
HAPPY FAMILY. Eddie Gauché
and his partner Mel Pretorius relax at their Selkirk home with two-week-old daughter Salumé.
IT'S easy to find out where Selkirk's popular lock forward Eddie Gauché lives - just look for a car parked
outside with a 'Baby On Board' pennant proudly displayed in the rear window! For Eddie's partner Mel gave birth
to the couple's daughter at the Borders General Hospital on December 18, and almost three weeks later the pair
of them are clearly still on cloud nine.
"We are really grateful for the support and attention Mel received at the BGH," Eddie told the selkirkrfc.com
web site this week. "It is such a great hospital, and the midwives Vicky and Carol were especially kind. By
coincidence Carol also hails from South Africa, so this made Mel feel even more at home. Everybody has been incredibly
kind, dropping off presents for the baby and sending congratulation cards."
Baby Salumé weighed in at 5lbs 13ozs, and certainly took her time coming into the world, with Mel's labour
lasting 35 hours. "She's settled in without any bother," said Mel, now back in Selkirk, "and is
sleeping and feeding really well. I'm very lucky having my mum and sister here to help, and we're hoping Eddie's
parents will come over in the New Year."
'Salumé' is a modern version of Mel's grandmother's name, while Eddie and Mel chose 'Imanie' as the baby's
middle name. Although born in Scotland, Salumé's nationality will be South African. She is the first grandchild
on either side of the family.
Since arriving at Philiphaugh 18 months ago, Eddie has proved one of Selkirk's star players. To date the 26-year-old
forward has made 43 appearances for the senior team, scoring a total of five tries. Last season he was awarded
the Boag Cup after being voted Selkirk's 'Player of the Season', and looks certain to be in contention once again
for this season's award.
Here's wishing Eddie, Mel and baby Salumé the very best of luck and good fortune in 2009. Or as they might
say in Nelspruit and Johannesburg (Eddie and Mel's home towns): 'Gelukkige Nuwejaar'!
" Two other Selkirk players and their partners have recently been blessed with happy arrivals - Duncan Lawson
and Morven with twins Christopher & Emma, and Jim Ross and Lynsey with daughter Macy. Many congratulations
to all concerned from the selkirkrfc.com web site team! (heading)
Overnight frost puts paid to 'A' XV's New Year
fixture against Watsonians 2nds
COLD COMFORT. A 10am pitch inspection was called
at Philiphaugh on Saturday morning to decide whether Selkirk A's match against Watsonians 2nds could go ahead as
planned. Unfortunately both the club's main pitch and the Burnmill pitch over the road were found to be unplayable,
so the fixture had to be called off. Pictured at the morning pitch inspection are, from left - Bryan Hoggan ('A'
XV team manager), Allan Seal (club groundsman), Dennis Henderson (director of rugby) and Ewen Robbie ('A' XV coach).
Upcoming fixtures
SATURDAY, JANUARY 10, 2009
Scottish Cup, 4th round
Glasgow Accies
v. Selkirk at New Anniesland (1.30pm kick-off)
Border Farm Supplies Championship
Selkirk 'A' v. Jed-Forest 2nds
At Philiphaugh (2pm kick-off)
Wanted
We are looking for any old VHS or DVD coverage of
70s, 80s or 90s games featuring Selkirk rugby teams (Not just 1st xv). It is hoped that we can gather enough footage
to make a DVD which will linclude clips from old games like the one below from 1987 against Highland which was
recorded and editied by Rob Webster. It will be fun to look back at some of the 'Elder Statesmen' of Selkirk rugby
and the way the game was played over the past 3 decades. We are also intending to post weekly clips on this website.
If you have any video footage that you think may
be of any use, please drop it off to David Anderson at Tweedside Financial Services, High Street, Selkirk. All
videos will be returned.
Welcome to the
Selkirk rugby football club website. Thank you for taking time to look. You may wish to bookmark this page now,
for your future ease.You are invited to browse our site to find out information about Selkirk who are currently
playing in the Scottish
Hydro Electric Premier Division One
and Border leagues.
.jpg)
