KELSO author Alistair Moffat is to deliver the next Loretto Lecture at the Musselburgh boarding school.

The writer is a former director of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and one-time head of programmes at Scottish Television. He’s a founder and director of both the Borders and Lennoxlove book festivals.

Mr Moffat, who is the current rector of the University of St Andrews, will talk on his project, Scotland’s DNA.

The Loretto Lectures are free and open to anyone. The school’s Jonathan Hewat said he hoped to welcome many people from the Borders to the talk on January 24.

POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a suspected assault in Peebles last Saturday.

A 41-year-old woman was making her way to a family member’s house in Northgate at around 12.45am when her top was grabbed from behind by a man at a footpath near Tesco store on Dovecot Road.

A struggle ensued and during this time the victim screamed loudly and struck out at her attacker before fleeing to her relative’s home and thereafter contacting police.

The suspect is described as white, in his late thirties, around 5ft 10ins tall with a gaunt and unkempt appearance.

He had a prominent sunken scar below his right eye, patch facial hair and short dark-coloured greying hair with a significantly receding hairline. He was wearing a navy blue zipper jacket.

As a result of the struggle, the woman was taken to hospital for treatment to a wrist injury.

Detectives are investigating whether this incident is linked to an assault, which took place at a shop on Peebles High Street at around 4.40pm on Tuesday, November 13.

The attack saw a 52-year-old woman working within the store grabbed and forced against a wall by a man who entered the shop.

The victim fought the suspect off and he fled from the premises.

Officers are now keen to speak with anyone who can assist with their enquiries into either incident.

Detective Inspector Jim Morrison said: “For both of these women this was a terrifying experience and fortunately they were able to fight their attackers off.

“We are conducting various lines of local enquiries to determine whether the same male was responsible for both of these incidents and would urge anyone with information to come forward.

“A high-visibility police presence will be out within Peebles to offer reassurance to the community and engage with local residents who may have seen or heard anything suspicious in the areas where these attacks took place.

“We would urge anyone who can help us trace those responsible for these assaults to contact police immediately.”

Those with information can contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.

A TEENAGER mountainbiker has suffered a serious head injury at one of the Borders most popular courses.

The 14-year-old boy from Bathgate was injured while cycling at Glentress Forest yesterday afternoon.

He was airlifted from the scene to Glasgow Southern General Hospital where he received treatment.

His condition is described as serious but is not thought to be life threatening.

Glentress has four different courses within its estate, including the Black Trail which has previously been named the best in Britain.

THE BORDERS is currently under a flood alert after heavy rain hit the region on Monday and is expected to continue this morning.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency said: “A period of heavy rain is expected to cross the area early on Tuesday morning.

“There is the potential for flooding impacts to low lying areas and roads from small watercourses and surface water flooding.”

The spokesperson added: “Remain vigilant and remember, it is your responsibility to take actions which help protect yourself and your property. Advice and information is available through Floodline on 0845 9881188.”

The Borders has so far avoided the worst of the weather, with residents in the Perthshire village of Comrie evacuated from their homes yesterday after streets were filled with 18 inches of water.

DO YOU have a favourite view in the Scottish Borders?

If so, the free-to-enter competition run by Borders Solicitors Property Centres (BSPC) could see your photograph being chosen to appear on a BSPC ‘bag for life’.

What’s more, the overall winner will also receive photography vouchers worth £500.

The Borders region has spectacular scenery and attractions, both natural and man-made, and this competition, aptly entitled ‘Your View of the Scottish Borders’, is an opportunity to capture what the area means to you in a single snapshot.

And as the focus of the competition is on creativity and relevance, rather than technical ability, you don’t have to be a super-proficient snapper to take part.

To be eligible, you must live in the Scottish Borders and your photograph (one entry per participant) must be your own work. You must also give permission for your image to be reproduced on BSPC marketing materials, including bags, publications, website and posters.

For further details on the competition, along with terms and conditions, and how to enter, please visit the following web address.

www.bspc.co.uk/thebigpicture

OFFICERS are hunting a thief who stole a charity box from the Plough Hotel in Town Yetholm, believed to have taken place on November 4 or 5.

In Lauder, three Silkie chickens valued at £180 have been stolen from a coop on the outskirts of the town last weekend.

And in Peebles, a vandal covered vehicles and property with red spray paint at Southpark Industrial Estate last weekend.

Meanwhile, Hawick officers are hunting the culprits who smashed a rear window of a Vauxhall car parked in Stonefield Place on Sunday night.

Anyone with information on any of the incidents is asked to contact the police.

BERWICK BANDITS’ fans have been checking for news from this years’ BSPA AGM which took place last week and will be no doubt be delighted to learn that the meeting confirmed the exciting French teenager David Bellego as a Berwick asset, writes Lawrence Heppell.

Club co-promoter Dennis McCleary said: “We are more than happy with the decision and thank the BSPA members for taking on board our views and can now add David to our Berwick rider asset base with immediate effect.”

But despite the addition to their riding roster, Berwick have stressed that they are still looking for an injection of funds to ensure their participation in the 2013 season and prospective sponsors are still urged to contact the club as soon as possible to secure a racing future.

The Bandits management also wished to put on record a vote of no disrespect to the sport’s “Speedway Star” weekly magazine - which they feel does a terrific job in promoting the sport - in not taking part in the recent promoters question and answer session on the future of speedway.

McCleary continued: “I know a lot of fans, not just Bandits supporters, have passed comment on our absence from the opinion poll, but as a club, a decision was made to steer clear of pre AGM comments by Berwick before the conference at Coventry last weekend.

“In fairness, John Anderson, who represented Berwick at the AGM, was going to be able to speak to the meeting after his initial period as an associate member, and there were several points Berwick wished to discuss about speedway generally in front of members rather than initially in the press and this included a couple of matters appertaining to Berwick alone, so we hope fans can appreciate where the club was coming from.

“Like every other club Berwick wishes speedway to continue to flourish but realise these are difficult times but they want to be positive too and not paint everything as black.

“We know there are no fast track answers but feel that cost cutting measures likely to be put in place by the BSPA for 2013 (details still to be formally announced) will benefit clubs overall.

“In an ideal world the solution is to increase income through the gates too but you need to strike a happy medium at all levels for speedway to progress accordingly.

“So increasing income and cutting expenditure at the same time is an ideal world stare of affairs. We feel speedway is still a great sport and hopefully it can progress in the right direction next year but like everyone else we can only do what we feel is for the best and hope it all comes together.”

The Bandits declared their intention to run in 2013 at the AGM, as was promised by John Anderson, but stress that the proper funding is still to be in place to ensure that happens.

Director George Hepburn commented: “We have said all along that we need to put in place a new team sponsor for 2013 and other financial measures, to ensure we run and we are looking at various avenues just now.

“We would like to come out here now and say, yes we are running in 2013, but we still have a lot of hard work to do, however, we ask fans please to be patient and we will announce any further news as soon as we can, maybe even at a fans forum if we can get this in place.”

The Bandits were honoured at the AGM with a joint-silver medal in the Premier League track of the season awards. This was scored by referees throughout the season, based on track condition and overall presentation of the stadium and the meeting with the Scunthorpe taking gold and Somerset sharing the prestigious silver with the Bandits.

A 26-YEAR-OLD man will appear at Duns Sheriff Court on Wednesday charged with stealing cars in Peebles.

The man was arrested after allegedly threatening drivers and taking the cars across a number of areas of the town on Monday.

Police have made it clear the incident is not being linked to their enquiries into two attacks on woman in Peebles last week. They are appealing for anyone with information about either incident – one of which took place in a High Street shop on November 13 and the other near Tesco in the early hours of Saturday morning – to contact them immediately.

Anyone with tip-offs can contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or the charity Crimestoppers in complete anonymity on 0800 555 111.

KELSO’S Ross Ford has been dropped from Andy Robinson’s team ahead of theis weekends EMC Test against Tonga in Aberdeen.

The Scotland coach has made five changes in personnel from the team that started against South Africa last week as well as four changes on the bench as Scotland seek to protect their 100% winning record at their northern citadel in front of an expected capacity crowd.

Ford’s fellow borderers Graham Hogg (Hawick), Greig Laidlaw (Jed-Forest) and Kelly Brown (Melrose) retain their places while once again Geoff Cross (Gala) is on the bench.

The changes in the team sees Max Evans return at outside centre, Henry Pyrgos at scrum-half in place of Mike Blair who moves to the bench, Scott Lawson replaces Ford, Alastair Kellock at lock and Alasdair Strokosch returns to the back row.

On the bench Grant Gilchrist and Tom Heathcote make their first starts while Rory Lawson is back on Scotland duty for the first time since the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Robinson said: “We will not be among the top eight seeds for the 2015 Rugby World Cup draw, so this weekend I’m looking at giving a number of players an opportunity to put their hand up for selection for next year.

“This weekend we have to put together an 80 minutes performance and build on the positive parts of our games that we showed in the last 30 minutes against South Africa and the second half against New Zealand.

“International rugby is about pressure and it’s important that you convert your pressure into points and when you are under pressure that you are able to absorb it as opposed to conceding points as cheaply as we have done.”

Scotland team to play Tonga at Pittodrie Stadium on Saturday (3pm): Stuart Hogg; Sean Lamont, Max Evans, Matt Scott, Tim Visser; Greig Laidlaw, Henry Pyrgos; Ryan Grant, Scott Lawson, Euan Murray, Richie Gray, Alastair Kellock, Alasdair Strokosch, Kelly Brown, David Denton. Subs: Dougie Hall, Kyle Traynor, Geoff Cross; Grant Gilchrist, John Barclay, Rory Lawson, Tom Heathcote, Nick De Luca.

EAST DISTRICT CROSS-COUNTRY LEAGUE SECOND LEG: Saturday, November 24 – Hosted by Lothian Running Club at Deans, Livingston (juniors, 12.30pm; seniors 1.05pm)

IMAGE PRINTERS CUP THIRD ROUND: Saturday, November 24 – Selkirk v Spartans (1.30pm); Gala Fairydean v Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale (2.30pm).

EOS PREMIER DIVISION: Saturday, November 24 – Tynecastle v Vale of Leithen (2pm).

EOS FIRST DIVISION: Saturday, November 24 – Ormiston v Kelso United (2pm); Berwick Rangers Reserves v Peebles Rovers; Hawick Royal Albert v Burnisland Shipyard (2.30pm).

WRIGHT CUP FINAL: Saturday, November 24 – Ancrum v Hawick Legion at Kelso (1.30pm).

SCOTTISH AMATEUR CUP THIRD ROUND REPLAY: Saturday, November 24 – Turriff Thistle v Linton Hotspur (1.30pm).

SOUTH CUP FIRST ROUND: Saturday, November 24 – Newtown v Gala Rovers (1pm).

SOUTH CUP SECOND ROUND: Saturday, November 24 – Stow v Hearts of Liddesdale; Biggar v Hawick United (1pm).

BAL DIVISION A: Saturday, November 24 – Duns Amateurs v Chirnside United; Hawick Waverley v Leithen Rovers; Pencaitland v Greenlaw; Tweeddale Rovers v West Barns Star (2pm).

BAL DIVISION B: Saturday, November 24 – Selkirk Victoria v Coldstream Amateurs (2pm).

BAL DIVISION C: Saturday, November 24 – Chirnside United Colts v Gala Athletic; Gordon v Lauder; St Boswells v Peebles Amateurs; Tweedmouth Amateur Colts v Abbotsford Albion (2pm).

EOS UNDER-19S LEAGUE: Sunday, November 25 – Heriot-Watt University v Selkirk (2pm).

RBS PREMIERSHIP: Saturday, November 24 – Melrose v Gala (1.30pm).

RBS REGIONAL SHIELD: Saturday, November 24 – Berwick v Duns; Hawick Linden v Earlston; Langholm v Hawick Harlequins (1.30pm).

EMC AUTUMN TEST: Saturday, November 24 – Scotland v Tonga at Pittodrie, Aberdeen (3pm).

SEMI-JUNIOR LEAGUE: Saturday, November 24 – Kelso Harlequins v Hawick Wanderers; Tynedale Colts v Jed Thistle; Langholm Colts v Berwick Colts; Peebles Colts v Selkirk Youth Club; Gala Wanderers v Duns Colts; Melrose Wasps v Hawick PSA (2pm).

UNDER-16S LEAGUE: Sunday, November 25 – Gala Red Triangle v Berwick; Kelso v Hawick Albion; Peebles v Melrose (1pm).

BORDERS SNOOKER LEAGUE: Thursday, November 23 – Border Club v Hawick Conservative Club A; Hawick Conservative Club B v Innerleithen; Selkirk A v Hawick Burns Club B; Jedburgh Legion v St Boswells; Hawick Burns Club A v Selkirk B.

BAD weather is hitting some subsidy-supported capital projects, NFU Scotland has been told.

Farmers who gained Rural Priorities support to carry out major works during 2012 are concerned they might not be able to finish the projects before the end of February, the deadline for claiming payment.

The union is advising farmers to still aim to send invoices in to their local Rural Payments and Inspections Directorate (RPID) office before February 28. But president Nigel Miller added: “We urge those unable to fit with that timetable to contact RPID area offices now with evidence of delay and to discuss implications for their award.”

ONE of the Borders farming community’s most “weel-kent faces”, Jack Clark, has brought his auctioneer’s hammer down on countless livestock sales across the region.

But next year will see him call time, not on another round of fierce bidding for a prize-winning tup or champion bull, but on a career that stretches back almost half a century.

Jack will step down from his role as Swan’s managing director in April, after reaching the age of 65, and take up a position as a non-executive director of parent company, John Swan & Sons.

In anticipation of Jack’s impending retirement, John Swan & Sons is to restructure its board to reflect the changing focus towards what it says is the management and development of the company’s property assets and related activities.

However, it is only the board that is being restructured to help maximise shareholder interests, with John Swan Ltd – the auctioneering subsidiary division – still committed to long-term continuity in the livestock auctioneering 
sector.

Jack’s successor at John Swan Ltd will be current finance director Steven Wilson, a 20-year company veteran.

Mr Wilson will assume full responsibility for John Swan Ltd with James Allen continuing as chairman.

John Swan & Sons says its board will now focus on property matters, in addition to its “over-riding responsibility as custodians of shareholder value”.

Speaking this week, Mr Wilson paid tribute to Jack for his long service: “He has been a great ambassador for our industry and well respected throughout the business community.

“He has always been a great support to me personally and I would like to thank him for that.”

A native of Lanarkshire, Jack had family connections with auctioneering firm Lawrie & Symington and has been with Swan’s since the age of 16.

He told TheSouthern he never really wanted to do anything else for a living, and, despite the many highs and lows he has witnessed over the years – he says the foot-and-mouth epidemic of 2001 was the worst – he still says there is much to be proud of, and optimistic about, when it comes to Borders farming.

“Things may have changed over the years since I first came into the business, but the basic principle remains the same in auctioneering – to provide a service equally relevant to both buyers and sellers.

“And it has been a privilege to have been involved in this industry for this length of time and I have been very fortunate that it has been in what is, and remains, one of the best livestock regions of the UK,” he told us.

“Livestock auctions remain the only transparent price-setting structure for the agricultural producer.”

As for what the future holds for Borders farming, Jack, who has been managing director for two decades, says much will hinge on keeping the livestock population – cattle and sheep – on marginal land areas to maintain grass and rougher ground in the right condition.

“What better way is there of keeping the hills in good condition than having livestock on them?” he said.

“But there has to be a return for the owner of sheep and cattle doing that important job and much will depend on the CAP [Common Agricultural Policy] review.”

While his shift to being a non-executive director will still see him involved in the industry he has cared passionately about for almost his entire life, it will free up a bit more of his time. Asked what his plans were, Jack replied: “There’s a few things that will keep me busy – I’m still a laddie at a bad age!”

A recent survey by the consumer organisation Which? found that price is the priority for most food shoppers, and 65 per cent of those asked said that it had become even more important because of present economic problems.

Shoppers select on price even more when they have less money – who would have thought that?

But perhaps that is unfair to Which? Its extensive survey – more than 2,000 shoppers and group discussions is extensive compared with most – also indicates that about a third also consider quality and taste more important when family finances are under pressure.

About one in four thought locally-produced food and animal welfare important, then there was a sliding scale through fair trade products, environmental impact and convenience to 15 per cent who thought food safety had become more important.

But price as the main arbiter is way out in front, for high-income as well as low-income shoppers. That has led to an increase in trade for discounters and value brands at the expense of premium brands and organic products.

The effects of this – not according to Which? but to personal observation, media reports and company results – can be seen in the desperate jockeying for market share among the main supermarkets and the type of vehicles now frequently seen in, for example, Aldi and Lidl carparks.

What the survey didn’t look at was customer loyalty. That must still play a part in high streets even in the worst of times, certainly in the Borders where there are still many good and top-quality butchers and bakers in spite of all the big retailers can throw at them. There, I suggest, quality, taste and the personal touch still have priority.

The big question, to go beyond the interesting, but parochial, grounds on which shoppers base their buying in the UK, is whether there will be enough food for everyone, of any quality at any price, 50 or 100 years from now?

Never mind 50 years, the world’s population is expected to be more than nine billion by 2050, an increase of one third from now. That will be against a background of scarcity of land, water and fertilisers, and uncertain economic prospects for most countries.

Granted most of the population increase is expected in developing countries where the most effective answer to many of the world’s potential problems would be effective birth control.

But an increase of one third in the billions of mouths to feed in less than 40 years must have an effect on every country in the world.

In the short term, that knock-on could be seen as a good thing for UK farmers. More people to feed must equal a need for more production. Either that will be exported or it will mean a rise in value for home consumption as imports become more expensive in a more competitive world market.

The permutations of that are obviously endless. It could even be argued that a worst-case situation for a government and supermarkets of hardly any imports and much greater UK reliance on home production would be a good thing for farmers, unlikely though that is to happen.

It could equally be argued that better storage and much less wastage of food could make prospects of feeding the world as a whole much brighter.

That was emphasised at the recent World Water Week conference in Stockholm, a gathering of 2,500 water specialists, politicians, food industry representatives, farmers and others. I’m not sure what the collective noun is for 2,500 water experts – a flood? a tsunami? – but their discussion of world water and food security was important.

Water has been described as “the new oil”, a resource that most of us squander cheerfully, but that is under threat from excessive use and even more excessive waste – 50 per cent waste between production and consumption, according to some estimates – with the world’s farmers at the centre of anything that can be done.

That is because, according to discussion at the conference, of all the Earth’s water, only about three per cent is fresh and two thirds of that – in spite of climate change and global warming debate – is locked in glaciers.

Of the available fresh water in the world, about 70 per cent is used by farmers. Now that is a thought. Not even so much for its use in growing crops, where application and result can almost be calibrated precisely – such as irrigation for potatoes and vegetables – but its use in producing meat.

Some calculations, hard to believe, suggest that producing one kilo of meat can use up to 15,000 litres of water. Others suggest less than 1,000 litres. However much is used, the world’s problem – an opportunity at least in the short term, of course, for livestock farmers – is that as countries develop and more people have more disposable income, such as now in China, demand for meat increases.

The world going organic might not be the answer, but a world going vegetarian would help – guess how popular that suggestion would be with UK farmers.

Hawick Linden 59

Ottawa Indians 17

TOUR MATCH

HAWICK Linden played hosts to Canadian tourists the Ottawa Indians at Mansfield Park and an entertaining game was served up with the extra pace of the home side being the big difference between the teams.

The Royal Blues were quickly on the scoreboard when Greg Bouglas went over for the first try. Soon after, an excellent offload found Sean Goodfellow, who had the pace to run in from halfway.

Stuart Renwick converted majestically from the touchline.

From another srummage pick-up, Steven Bouglas burst through the visitors’ defence and ran half the length of the pitch to touch down under the posts and, with Ottawa on the attack, Nathan Murray picked up from a ruck and his pace saw him home from a distance.

Hawick back row man Barrie Keown took to the field for his former club to bolster the Ottawa pack. There was no stopping the Linden, though, and Murray ran a lovely loop to go over for his second try.

The visitors’ effort never dropped and from a tap penalty they went over from short range and the conversion was slotted, leaving the Teries 33-7 ahead at the break, Renwick having slotted three more conversions.

A visit to a distillery earlier in the day may have been a contributing factor to the tiredness of the visitors, as well as their game on Monday night against Watsonians.

From a Murray kick ahead, Graeme Anderson took the catch and Colville sneaked up the blind side to score.

Steven Bouglas then secured his hat-trick as he intercepted an Ottawa attack and ran in from 70m before Murray once more showed his running ability to touch down and Renwick slotted his seventh kick of the night.

Next, a beautifully weighted cross-kick from Renwick was caught on the full by Liam Lawrence, who strode over to take the score to 59-7.

The Canadians resolve never wilted and an interception took them to the home line and the forwards did the necessary to go over from short range for a converted try.

Robert Stitt and Gary Wardle came on for the visitors to allow a breather for a couple of tired bodies and the loudest cheer of the night was reserved for the final try as Ottawa burst through from midfield to make the final score as the referee blew for time.

Hawick Linden: N. Murray; G. Anderson, G. Bouglas, S. Bouglas, C. Gracie; S. Renwick, S. Goodfellow; K. Mabon, S. Harkness, J. Gilchrist, S. Fairbairn, S. Mabon, G. Wardle, G. Cunningham, G. Colville. Subs: W. Barker, M. Knight, S. Beattie, C. Turnbull, L. Lawrence, R. Beattie, G. Douglas.

ANOTHER fun night down Netherdale way took place last week when teams from Galashiels Academy, Gala YM, Gala Star Vets, Gala Red Triangle, Gala Wanderers, Gala Mini Maroons coaches, Gala and Gala A took part in the Brydon Cup touch rugby tournament.

All ties were played in the true spirit of the game, with young, old, male and female taking part.

In Pool A, Gala came out on top with two wins and one draw, while the Wands finished runners-up with two wins and one defeat.

In Pool B, Gala A qualified as winners, also with two wins and one draw, with runners-up Gala Red Triangle making the semis with two wins and a draw.

The first semi was close, with Gala just managing to hold off the Triangle, eventually winning by two tries to one, while the other semi was more of a one-sided affair, the A-team defeating the Wanderers by four scores to one and setting up a classic final.

The firsts scored the opening try with some fine play and it was not until the final play of the game that the A team managed to cross the try line to make the final score one all. As the rules stated that no extra time was to be played, the team that had scored first try were crowned Brydon Cup winners.

Thanks must go to the two referees, Billy Hunter and Ian Millar, for officiating all 15 games between them and to Colin Playfair for his running commentary throughout the night.

Special thanks to Dave Brydon for coming along to present the cup to the winners, Gala, and medals to the runners-up, Gala A.

The Brydon Cup was first presented in the 1930s by Dave’s grandfather.

ON SATURDAY we saw the Jekyll and Hyde face of Scottish rugby.

The first 50 minutes of Scotland’s clash with the Springboks at Murrayfield were riddled with errors and effectively cost the hosts the match, particularly when Mike Blair’s pass was intercepted by South African hooker Adriaan Strauss who went in for his second try of the match.

It was always going to be tough to turn round an 18-point deficit, but when Henry Pyrgos dived over for Scotland’s try from a line-out in a move performed three times successfully by Gala this season, there was a glimpse of hope. The spark had been ignited and for the last half-hour it was all Scotland as they pummelled the Springbok defence to try and stage a big comeback.

All that effort was much appreciated by the crowd, but it ultimately led to no points in the final 30 minutes, mirroring the final half-hour against the All Blacks six days earlier when the Scots were nilled in the final stages of that game.

So who were the players who came out of Saturday’s match with credit? First on my credit sheet would be David Denton, the back row forward who was drafted into the team when Ross Rennie dislocated his shoulder against New Zealand. Now there’s a guy who really gave it a go and his workrate was commendable.

I was impressed with Stuart Hogg. His kicking game was good and he looked comfortable under the high ball.

Talking to him after the match it was interesting to hear him speak about the way he plays these days. He has a much more mature outlook on matters, gained by his experience at this level, and he is playing a more measured game.

“I need to be sensible about when to have a run or not. Today there were no chances for me to have a real go, but I’ll keep working away and hopefully they’ll come one day,” Hogg commented.

As usual, I write this column before the team selection is out, but who will be likely starters against Tonga at Aberdeen?

There are calls for Andy Robinson to tinker a bit with the side, particularly in the backline, and I would certainly like to see Pyrgos get his first start.

He’s a hungry young man with good current form and he may well be the person to take over from Blair as Scotland’s number 9.

Alex Dunbar, Peter Horne and Peter Murchie are itching to be included, as are Lee Jones and Tommy Seymour, and the likely pair who may find their positions under threat would be Sean Lamont and Nick De Luca, who have scored just nine tries between them in a total of 107 outings. Compare that tally with Tim Visser who has crossed the line four times in his four matches so far.

This is Scotland’s last game before Robinson brings his troops into the Six Nations Championship.

It’s an opportunity for all 23 in the squad to stake their claim for honours next season and they know a big win against Tonga will help. Don’t forget, though, that a few months ago Tonga were higher than Scotland in the IRB rankings.

We have played Tonga four times – twice in capped games. We have won comfortably in all the matches, scoring more than 40 points in three of them, and last year our A team hammered them at Netherdale, so there is no reason to expect anything less than a convincing victory.

Kelso 16

Melrose 19

BOOKER BORDER LEAGUE

FIONA SCOTT reports from Poynder Park

DESPITE winning the try count 2-1 against Premiership outfit Melrose on Friday night, Kelso were just squeezed out of this edge-of-your-seat derby clash.

Indeed, for most of the first half it was the hosts who dominated and they really should have been further ahead at the break.

As it was, the teams turned around with the hosts ahead 11-6 and the large crowd prepared themselves for a Melrose onslaught after the restart.

It didn’t come.

Kelso faced up to their opponents well, but at the end of the day the visitors’ forwards proved to be the difference with some staunch defending throughout.

It was with much relief that the Melrose contingent greeted the final whistle which put an end to their recent losing streak.

Melrose president John Reed had taken over the duties of cameraman for the evening and had mixed emotions over viewing the game through a two-inch by one-inch screen.

“You feel like you haven’t really been at the game at all,” he commented.

Talking of the game which saw his side sail to the top of Pool A in the Booker Border League Reed added: “A win is a win and, with a much-altered team, the players battled hard to overcome a doughty Kelso side.

“It was good to see some Storm players step up to the mark and equally it was good to have Richard Ferguson back on the pitch.”

Melrose grabbed early penalty points with two successful kicks from Joe Helps, but it was Kelso who had the better of the territory.

And on the 20th minute their perseverance paid off when Gregg Minto danced over for a close-range try.

Murray Hastie missed the conversion, but put his team in front minutes later with a penalty goal.

Kelso continued to enjoy most of the possession for the remainder of the half and, had it not been for a missed penalty, and then a spilled pass just metres from the Melrose line, the scoreline could have been verging on the embarrassing for the visiting Premiership side.

As it was, Hastie slotted a penalty right on the whistle to put his team 11-6 ahead at the break.

One could only imagine what John Dalziel was saying to his team at half-time, but whatever it was looked to have worked as ’Rose came out flying, with replacement winger Bruce Colvine running half the length of the pitch to touch down and Andrew Skeen making the conversion to edge the black-and-golds back into the lead.

With half an hour left, Donald Seed was given 10 minutes in the sin bin, during which time Skeen notched a penalty to stretch the Melrose lead to five points.

The Tweedsiders continued to lump the pressure on, however, and, following a lengthy spell camped out on the Melrose try line, Darren Gillespie forced his way over to tie the scores and leave the game hanging in the balance with 10 minutes remaining and the score at 16-16.

With five minutes left, Helps banged over another penalty for Melrose and still Kelso refused to give up. One of their final surges towards the line saw Adam Alexander brutally stopped in his tracks by one of the Melrose forwards, and still they charged.

This was an admirable performance by the home team and Border League rugby at its best.

Kelso: W. Massey; A. Haig, C. Brown, A. Alexander, G. Minto; M. Hastie, F. Strachan; K. Cooney, C. Riddell, A. Marsh, D. Seed, J. Stewart, M. Robertson, E. Ford, D. Gillespie. Subs: D. Redstone, A. Wallace, S. McColl, D. Buckley, T. Wilson.

Melrose: A. Skeen; L. Mallen, J. Murray, J. Helps, U. Kalamafoni; R. Mill, S. McCormick; C. Keen, R. Ferguson, G. Holorn, R. Ovens, R. Miller, C. Wilde, D. Crawford, A. Nagle. Subs: W. Mitchell, C. Arthur, M. Stewart, B. Colvine, S. Chalmers.

Gala 28

Selkirk 17

BOOKER BORDER LEAGUE

LAING SPEIRS reports from Netherdale

AFTER the elegant way in which they had disposed of Stirling, Gala were forced to turn to a very different style on Friday night.

Selkirk made sure the free-flowing operation of six days earlier was checked at source and the game ended up as the old-fashioned Borders scrap that many had anticipated.

Fraser Harkness, whose try for the Souters was one of the evening’s highlights, felt that his side had to live off scraps, but he thought that his team-mates had done well to contain the hosts on a ground where winning was never easy.

Gala coach George Graham’s elation at the team’s showing at Stirling the previous week quickly turned to despair.

He told us: “With all respect to Selkirk, we should have put them away and I’m disappointed with our performance.”

Six touchdowns were conjured up on a fine night for rugby, but two of them, both going to Gala, were penalty tries.

They emerged from the home scrum’s superiority at critical moments and was the first time that the Maroons have won a brace in the same game.

Selkirk twice went ahead after Gala’s first penalty try, goaled by Lee Millar, had been countered by Harkness’s solo effort from 40m out, Mike McVie converting and then adding a long penalty,

Selkirk were the more enterprising in the first half and had the edge until Craig Keddie got a vital try for Gala after another strenuous effort by the home pack.

Millar’s conversion was countered by a try from Ryan Crockatt, who fastened onto a short pass from the powerful Romanian Cata Graur to touch down at the posts. McVie added the extras.

At 14-17 against, Gala had to lift their game and a solo effort by Grant Somerville down the right wing, beating three men on the way, produced the critical try, which Millar converted.

With yellow cards as common as autumn leaves, it was no surprise when another penalty try sealed the game, Gala getting the score following a forward effort.

Millar converted to leave Gala at the top of Pool B in the Bookers Border League – with Jed-Forest left to play.

It was an evening when individual efforts at important moments turned the game, but as team efforts go it lacked a lot.

It didn’t set the sides back in their quest for more success, but it never looked like delivering the best potential from either outfit.

Gala: G. Young; G. Somerville, C. Auld, B. Turner, C. Robertson; L. Millar, D. Owenson; Martin Christie, C. Macintosh, E. McQuillin, C. Weir, Gary Graham, C. Keddie, K. Mein, E. Dods. Subs: R. Anderson, S. Cairns, D. Marshall, A. Emond, A. McLean.

Selkirk: F. Harkness; R. Banks, S. Hendrie, R. Nixon, D. Clapperton; G. Craig, M.McVie; S. Renwick, S. Forrest, C. Graur, A. Renwick, M. Kissick, E. MacDougall, A. Duckett, R. Crockatt. Subs: K. Monks, J. Bett, E. Turner, M. Waldron, A. Lambie.

WOOLER

AT their weekly Primestock Sale held at Wooler last Wednesday John Swan Ltd had forward and sold 1,228 lambs and 223 ewes.

Lambs forward in larger numbers, many heavyweights on offer and all classes again sought after with caution.

Leading prices per head:- Bel:- £78.50 Clarabad Mill. Tex.x:- £74.50 Elilaw, £73.50 Lilburn Estates, £73 Broadmeadows, £72.50 Wandon, £71.50 Fawdon Farms and Kettleburn, £70.50 Mindrum Farming Co, £70 Butterknowes, South Bellshill (2) and Lilburn Estates. Suff.x:- £74 Chesterhill, £72 Elilaw (2), Wandon and Fawdon Farms, £71 Castlelaw. Char:- £68 Wandon. Hamp:- £68 Kettleburn. C.M:- £68 South Charlton. Mule:- £66.50 Fawdon Farms. Suff:- £66 Lilburn Estates. Ven:- £66 South Lyham. Chev:- £66 Linbrig.

Leading prices per kilo:- Tex.x:- 178.1p Broadmeadows, 171.1p, 170.9p Lilburn Estates, 162.5p Old Cambus, 161.5p Shipley Smallburns, 161.3p Old Campus and Linhope Estates (Roddam), 160.7p Linhope Estates (Roddam), 160p Linbrig and Biddlestone Home Farm. Bel:- 167.5p Hillcrest. Suff:- 157.1p Great Ryle, 154.9p Biddlestone Home Farm, 153.5p Linhope Estates (Roddam), 153.5p Lilburn Estates. C.M:- 154.6p South Charlton.

Ewes a mixed show, all classes again difficult to cash.

Leading prices:- Tex.x:- £85 Shipley Smallburn. BFL:- £75 Fawdon Farms. Suff:- £70 Fowberry Moor. Mule:- £60 Chesterhill. Chev:- £58 Linbrig.

ST BOSWELLS

AT St Boswells Mart on Monday John Swan Ltd sold 87 clean cattle, 117 OTM cattle, 2,170 new season lambs and 479 ewes.

Bullocks (52) averaged 206.4p per kg and sold to 242p (+2.3p on week), heifers (34) averaged 212.4p per kg and sold to 235p (-0.8p on week), one young bull averaged 187p per kg and sold to 187p (n/c on week) and 117 beef type OTM cattle averaged 136.2p per kg and sold to 190p (+4.9p on the week).

The 2,170 new season lambs averaged 158.1p per kg £67.24 and sold to 207p, £89 (+3.6p on week) and 479 ewes averaged £42.13 and sold to £87 (Suff.x).

Principal prices per kg: Bee Edge 2.42 M/s WTS Forsyth and Sons, 2.32 Robert Wilson Butcher, 2.27 M/s TA Shaw; Sourhope 2.35 M/s WTS Forsyth and Sons, 2.27 M/s TA Shaw, 2.24 Gosford Bothy Shop; Greenknowe 2.32 Colin Peat, 2.25 Gosford Bothy Shop; Redden 2.30 M/s WTS Forsyth and Sons; Lennoxlove 2.28 M/s WTS Forsyth and Sons; Cranshaws 2.27 M/s TA Shaw; Mosstower 2.25 Charles Wilson Butcher; Snawdon 2.25 Charles Wilson Butchers; North Synton 2.25 M/s TA Shaw; Upper Nisbet 2.24 M/s JA Waters and Sons; Wester Middleton 2.21 M/s Moor.

Principal prices per head: Bee Edge £1452; Butchercote £1439.90; Woodhead. A £1415.70; Upper Nisbet £1411.20; Lennoxlove £1402.20; North Synton £1394.25.

Cows per head: Humebyres £1503.60, £1358.50; Kersknowe £1494, £1283.25, £1208.70; Northhouse £1476; Longniddry £1339.20, £1248, £1205.20, £1198.50; Thirlestane £1320; Huntlaw £1295.60; Brockley Hall £1201.05; Inchkeith £1199.45; South Falaknowe £1170; Corsbie £1168.

Cows per kg: Humebyres 1.90, 1.79, 1.64; Longniddry 1.86, 1.84, 1.68, 1.70; Kersknowe 1.80

1.77; Roxburgh Mains 1.74; Wester Middleton 1.70; Tandlaw 1.69, 1.66; Thirlestane 1.65; Northhouse 1.64; Huntlaw 1.64.

Bulls: Woodhead. A £1478.70 (1.59); Ormiston £1308 (1.20); Ellemford Farms £1242 (1.35); Inchkeith £1217.20 (1.36); Priesthaugh £1184.40 (1.26);

Principal prices - lambs per head: Bel;- £89 Brotherstone, £87 Crookston and Sydenham, Tex;- £87 Crookston, £85.50 Howden, £82 St Leonards and Lower Ashtrees, Suff.x;- £78 Brotherstone, £76 Faughhill, £75.50 Brotherstone and Torsonce, Char;- £73 Woodhouse, Chev;- £70 Stagehall, £69, £68.50 Shaws, GF;- £68,£65 Burncastle, £64.50 Renniston Edge, BF;- £60 Henderland, £58 Larriston.

Principal prices, lambs per kg: Bel;- 207, 206.6, 201.2 Brotherstone, Tex;- 195 Corsbie, 192.5 Howden, 191.7 Faughhill, Suff.x;- 178.4 Helmburn, 168.6 Brotherstone, Char;- 168.8 Woodhouse, Chev;- 161 Stagehall, 159.3 Shaws, GF;- 154.9 Lauderhill, 154.6 Burncastle, 154 Saughtree.

Cast ewes and rams: Suff.x;- £87,£77 Mayfield, £71 Greenend, Tex;- £85 Mayfield, £73 Bonjedward Mill and Faughhill, HB;- £79 Bonjedward Mill, £69 West Moneylaws, GF;- £65 Whitehouse. A, £63 Greenend, Lighthouse (Orkney) and Inchkeith, Chev;- £59 Buchtrig, £49 Faughhill, BF;- £45 Leithenhope, £43 Elmscleugh.

LONGTOWN

THE Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart PLC had forward 48 prime cattle, 10 young bulls, 48 over 30 month cattle, 5,596 prime lambs and 7,437 cast ewes and rams at their weekly sale at Longtown last Thursday.

A smaller, plainer show of prime cattle on offer but trade maintained last weeks good rates. More numbers are needed to satisfy a busy ringside of buyers. Top of 226.5p for a Limousin heifer shown by W. and W. Faulder, Houghton House. British Blue bullocks sold to 213.5p (700 kilos) from T. Armstrong and Sons, Sceughdyke.

Young bulls were a better show for quality.

A similar number of cast cows were forward with a large portion of them being feeders once again.

Top price of 207.5p for a Limousin from Messrs West, New Holme Farm, Charolais to 192.5p from the same home.

A larger show of 5,596 lambs was forward to a busy ring of buyers.

The sale average was 150p, 5p to 8p in front of most others centres this week. Best export lambs continue to sell well and short of buyers requirements.

The 982 lightweight lambs to £56.80 for Beltex from Maidencoates; Texel £55.20 Langholm Farm, £53.80 Castlemilk; Greyface £51.80 Ardlamy; Blackface £49.80 Brennanlea, £48.80 Balliemeanoch; Hill Cheviot £48 High Chesters, £46.80 Crossibeg; Cheviot Mule £46.80 Parkhill.

Another fine show of 7,437 were forward to a full ring of buyers although demand was steady but the quality of ewes was not as strong as last week. Plainer ewes beginning to dry up and numbers likely to slow up in coming weeks.

BORDER LIVESTOCK

LAST week Border Livestock Exchange Ltd sold 132 prime cattle including 61 cows, 2,047 prime lambs including 411 ewes, 119 store cattle and 485 store lambs.

A tremendous consignment of heavyweight organic steers from Tullochallum, Keith, broke the current top price record with a 29 month old Charolais cross selling to £1,804. Conventional cattle sold to £1,602 for a Stabiliser cross steer from Easington Grange, Belford.

Young bulls from Bowsden Moor, Berwick, reached £1,624 for a 14 month old home bred Belgian Blue. Aberdeen Angus cross steers from Tughall Grange, Chathill, sold to 378p per kg and £1,587 per head.

Home bred Aberdeen Angus cross heifers from Whitmuirhaugh, Kelso, sold to 385p per kg.

Lambs were similar to the previous week with best quality Continental crosses selling to £77.70 from Syminton Mains, Stow, and Bowerhouse, Lauder. Organic lambs sold to £77 from Middle Moor, Alnwick. Cheviot crosses to £75.60 from Stagehall, Stow. Suffolk crosses also to £75.60 from Venchen, Yetholm, and Goswick Farm, Beal. Texel crosses to £75.60 from Roddam, Wooler.

A drunken man was told he should be “thoroughly, thoroughly ashamed” of his disruptive behaviour at Borders General Hospital, where his mother works.

Imposing an alternative sentence to custody, Sheriff Mhari Mactaggart told Stuart Gallagher: “You turn up drunk and create this kind of scene – distress to staff and those being treated. You should be thoroughly, thoroughly ashamed of yourself, not just because you conducted yourself in this manner, but that you also did it where your mother works.”

Sheriff Mactaggart also told Gallagher he needed to address his drinking.

He was sentenced to a 12-month community payback order, with a condition he completes 110 hours of unpaid work within six months.

Gallagher, 22, of Davidson Place, Newtown St Boswells, pleaded guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner at the BGH on July 10.

“He went there in the early hours of a Tuesday morning with a friend, who had been admitted by ambulance,” explained procurator fiscal Graham Fraser.

The prosecutor said: “He was there as moral support and was asked to wait in the waiting area, but refused to do so. For no apparent reason, he continually refused to move to the waiting area, or to wait outside.”

Mr Fraser added: “A staff nurse, who knew the accused, said she would speak to him and try to calm the situation, and she also asked him to sit in the waiting area, but he began to shout and swear.

“He adopted an aggressive posture, leaning across the reception desk, and the police were called.”

Gallagher “tensed his body” as police tried to handcuff him and he then tried to lash out at officers, eventually being taken to the ground.

Defence solicitor Mat Patrick said his client had little recollection of the offence.

“He was drunk and has no explanation for his behaviour other than his intoxication. He was only there to accompany a friend,” added Mr Patrick.

The lawyer went on: “His mother works at the BGH, so his behaviour has caused her deep embarrassment, and he is under no illusions that this was unacceptable and should never have happened.”

Mr Patrick said Gallagher had been taking steps to reduce his drinking.