Selkirk 12 - 34 Boroughmuir : 'Muir give Selkirk six of the best

BOROUGHMUIR coach Phil Smith welcomed the earlier than usual start to the new season and then watched his side demolish the home team with some breathtaking rugby.

It is too early to say if Boroughmuir will be serious title contenders, but their six tries inspired the Meggetland team on what, for many, has been a difficult journey in the past.

"It's great weather here and we scored some lovely tries," said Smith. "We knew that Selkirk would make it tough for us, but we have added to our squad and that gives us hope for the rest of the season."

For Selkirk's new coaches, Graham Marshall and Rodney Pow, it was a disappointing start. "We played well for the first hour and I was happy with that, but then the physicality took over and we lost scores," said Marshall.

The result could have been worse as new signing from Doncaster Knights, Ally Warnock, managed only two of his six conversion attempts while he also hit the post with a penalty. The former Edinburgh and Currie player's performance was compounded when he was yellow-carded on half-time for seemingly killing the ball.

Selkirk winger Scott Hendrie, who finished with a shoulder injury, twice went close, but despite their pressure after the break, Selkirk could not add to David Cassidy's four first-half penalties - and the power of the dominant Boroughmuir pack, and the elusive running of their backs, earned a well- deserved victory.

Boroughmuir led only 17-12 at the break through tries by Neil Rodger, Greig Scott and Jamie Doubleday - but they took control in the last quarter with Doubleday, Ross Samson and Stevie Wilson adding to the try tally.

Scorers: Selkirk: Pens: Cassidy (4). Boroughmuir: Tries: Doubleday (2), Rodger, Scott, Samson, Wilson. Cons: Warnock (2).

Selkirk: F Harkness; S Hendrie, D Cassidy, R Armstrong, C Beattie; G Craig, M McVie; G Patterson, S Forrest, M Weller, A Renwick, S Willett, N Darling, C Patton, R Crockatt. Subs: I Walling, M Murray, C Marshall, C Beattie, R Godsmark.

Boroughmuir: S Ruddick; T Bury, M Clapperton, S Wilson, J Webster; A Warnock, S Johnson; N Fraser, S Crombie, F Lait, G Scott, A Davidson, J Doubleday, N Rodger, D O'Riordan. Subs: C McIntosh, R Hislop, J Hare, R Neill, R Samson.

Referee: A Healy (GHA)