Watsonians 14

Kelso 36

RBS NATIONAL LEAGUE

NORMAN ANDERSON reports from Myreside

THE Tweedsiders exacted revenge for a 51-3 thumping earlier this season.

Kelso, fielding a makeshift second row, scored the first try of the day after Donald Seed secured clean line-out ball. It fizzed back and forward along the line and, following a ruck just short of the Watsonians’ line, Stuart Lowrie celebrated his birthday a day early by burrowing over for a try. Murray Hastie, who had missed an earlier penalty, converted.

The visitors lost Kieran Cooney through a bad facial injury and lost a try when Claudio Gamboa opened the homesters’ account. Brian Walls added the conversion.

Then, a trip on Gregor Millar allowed Hastie to kick an easy penalty.

Kelso added to their lead two minutes later when a Michael Robertson pick-up at the back of the scrum was taken on by both Mintos. Eventually, Richard Minto broke through, ignoring a three-to-one, and touched down near the posts. Hastie again added the extras.

More was to come from Kelso after another Robertson pick-up. Gregor Millar pounced on a loose ball and raced 60m up the touchline, and cut inside for a fine individual try. Hastie failed with the conversion, but Kelso were 22-7 ahead at the break.

As the second period went on, the more comfortable Kelso seemed to be, until the 68th minute when Ewan Millar, who had scored a hat-trick against the Poynder Park outfit after coming off the bench during the earlier match, burst through unopposed for a touchdown at the posts which Walls converted.

But Kelso soon had the bonus point in the bag when they opted for a scrum near the posts. Again, Robertson picked up and strolled over, with Hastie adding the extras.

The visitors sealed victory after Hastie put in a perfect kick for Gregg Minto to chase, so forcing the line-out. A clean catch by Seed and a quick pass to captain Chris Riddell took play up to the home line. Riddell fed Robertson who crashed over for his second try.

Hastie converted from near the touchline to take Kelso home by 36-14 and him over 200 points for the season.

Kelso: A. Alexander; G. Millar, R. Minto, D. Buckley, G. Minto; M. Hastie, F. Strachan; S. Lowrie, C. Riddell, A. Marsh, K. Cooney, D. Seed, I. Wallace, M. Robertson, J. Stewart. Replacements: D. Redstone, P. Grahamslaw, S. Patterson, K. Flannigan, G. Ponton.

Stewart’s Melville 31

Jed-Forest 32

RBS NATIONAL LEAGUE

JED-FOREST snatched a dramatic win at Inverleith on Saturday to keep their hopes of survival alive.

The Riverside Park outfit were 14-0 behind after 13 minutes as their hosts got off to a flying start with two converted tries.

A brave attempt to get back into the game was thwarted when tries by Lewis Young and then Ross Goodfellow were disallowed before Iain Chisolm notched the visitors’ first points with a penalty.

Persistence was rewarded further in the 25th minute when Lewis Young did manage to ground the ball over the try line and Chisolm added the conversion.

Seven minutes later, Jed were further hampered when Jack Sudlow was yellow-carded for not rolling away and Stew/Mel ran in another try to make the score 19-10 to the hosts at half-time.

After the restart, that gap was increased further as the home side blasted out of the traps with another two tries, one of which was converted.

However, Jed appeared to have the measure of things and launched an all-out attack, covering a 10 minute period, which led to tries from Chisolm and Goodfellow, both converted by Chisolm, who also added a penalty.

Trailing 31-27, a determined Jed continued to pile on the pressure and with time running out, threw everything they had at the Inverleith outfit and were rewarded for their efforts when Lewis Young scorched in for the bonus point try and sealed a vital victory for his team.

Jed-Forest: L. Young; C. Gillon, I. Chisolm, R. Hogg, D. Gobby; N. Fono-Hunt, R. Goodfellow; A. Ions, David Grieve, A. Frame, G. Young, G. Elder, M. Weekley, Donald Grieve, J. Sudlow. Subs: N. Bates, N. Cook, J. Rowley, D. Wallace, E. Munro.

Melrose 21

Dundee HSFP 37

RBS PREMIERSHIP

LAING SPEIRS reports from The Greenyards

THERE was enough incentive on both sides to set up a match of total commitment – the problem was that only one of them took up the challenge,

Melrose were looking to strengthen their bid for a place in next year’s British and Irish Cup, while Dundee needed points to ease their relegation fears.

But right from the off it was clear that the Tayside squad were bringing the bigger effort to the game. Melrose put on a display of shadow tackling that made life easier for the visitors, who ran in four tries, building their success on a powerful effort up front.

They also carried a match winner in kicker Jack Steele, who followed up his four successful kicks at Netherdale seven days earlier with another 17 points.

For the Greenyards men who lost a Premiership game at home for the sixth time, it was another example of simple errors proving costly. They couldn’t match Dundee’s speed of transfer, they spent too long on retreat in the scrums and they came up short in the tackling chores.

Callum Anderson had a couple of good runs and Andrew Skeen, coming on late in proceedings, showed he knew where the try line was. But, overall, it was very much a day when Melrose’s appetite for the game was below par.

It was significant that a Dundee second row man should produce the first problems for Melrose, Richie Hawkins racing through an unimpressive defence for a try in five minutes. Steele converted.

Handling on both sides was a bit shaky, but the guests settled down and speedy transfer sent Harry Duthie in for a score, Steele again converting and then adding a penalty.

Melrose were 17 points adrift after 20 minutes, but Fraser Thomson followed through a chip to the corner to get a vital score. Richard Mill added the extras.

Into the second period and the strong Dundee scrum set up the ball for Richie McIver to cross the line far out. Steele, as was now becoming inevitable, added the two points.

Duthie dodged through some weak tackling for his second try, converted again by Steele who added another two penalties, the second after Melrose’s Gary Holborn scored a hard-worked touchdown which Skeen converted.

At 14-37 there was just time for Skeen to score at the posts and add the points.

The Taysiders performed a celebratory dance at the end – they had every reason to do so.

Melrose: F. Thomson; C. Anderson, B. Dick, A. Letham, A. Dodds; R. Mill, B. Colvine; N. Little, R. Ferguson, G. Holborn, G. Dodds, R. Ovens, J. Dalziel, A. Nagle, R. Miller. Subs: W. Mitchell, C. Keen, P. Eccles, S. McCormick, A. Skeen.

Stirling County 26

Gala 21

RBS PREMIERSHIP

MARTIN LAING reports from Bridgehaugh

GALA coach George Graham was quick to identify the positives from this campaign, despite his team losing at Stirling and, in the process, surrendering their title challenge.

“Overall, it has been a hugely positive season for us,” he said. “We have still qualified for the British and Irish Cup next season, we’re in the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup and, if we beat Jed-Forest, we’ll be in the final of the Border League.”

However, despite his admirably upbeat response, Gala’s players and officials were evidently upset as their dreams of winning the Scottish club championship vanished in the sunshine at Bridgehaugh. Graham admitted that some of his charges were emotional following the match – and after hearing the news that Ayr had won and thus secured the title.

“We are bitterly disappointed,” said the coach.

“There are guys in the changing room with tears in their eyes. We wanted to win the league and we’ve missed it by a whisker. But it’s a learning experience and we’ll bounce back.”

He was generous enough to give credit to County, the club where he played for many years, having been born and brought up in Stirling.

“Take nothing away from Stirling. They are fighting for their lives and they were always going to lift their game and they deserved the win,” Graham conceded.

The home side were, indeed, good value for their victory, and it is one that eases their relegation concerns, though they remain mired in a dogfight to beat the drop that could potentially still involve all the teams up to and including third-in-the-table Melrose.

The Maroons had begun this match in high spirits, an early move resulting in a penalty that Lee Millar made the most of to take the lead. However, the advantage was short-lived and thereafter Gala were never again in front.

Brian Archibald booted Stirling level after eight minutes before winger Matt Lamb scored after charging down a poor clearance attempt.

Archibald then stretched the hosts’ lead with another penalty before Lamb again touched down, this time hopping the last few metres after pulling a hamstring. Archibald added the extras. But the Borderers deserved credit for hauling themselves back into the match with a try by Andy McLean and then, just before the break, another for Grant Somerville, which Millar converted.

Soon after the restart, Millar kicked Gala level, but County then moved up a gear and outplayed the visitors.

Archibald eventually restored Stirling to the lead with a penalty five minutes from the end and Garry Mountford rubbed salt in Gala’s wounds with a try that sealed victory, despite Millar reducing the deficit almost on full-time.

Gala: A. McLean; G. Somerville, B. Turner, C. Borthwick, C. Robertson; L. Millar, George Graham; L. Pettie, C. Mackintosh, C. Hogg, C. Weir, O. Palepoi, C. Keddie, E. Dods, Gary Graham. Reps: L. Bertram, T. Weir, B. Murray, D. Swenson, G. Young.

Hawick 11

Glasgow Hawks 6

RBS NATIONAL LEAGUE

STUART CAMERON reports from Mansfield Park

PICTURE the scene. Eighty-three minutes of rugby had been played at Mansfield Park with Hawick and Glasgow Hawks battling it out for the key to the one automatic promotion place to the Premiership.

The two best sides in the National League had throttled each other’s attacking options in a game which was tense, nervy and compelling. Every player on the Mansfield Park pitch gave their all for the cause. This was rugby for purists, but not spectators.

If you were after fast, flowing rugby you would have been disappointed. This was a war of the mind and body – a tough physical encounter with tactics playing a massive part in proceedings.

But as this top-of-the-table clash went deep into stoppage time, it looked as if it would be honours even at 6-6 and heading for a second consecutive draw between the pair, following a 16-16 battle at Anniesland earlier in the season,

A draw would have favoured Hawks, not Hawick. The Glasgow men were 10 points behind the hosts before this game, but had three matches in hand. However, there was a twist.

A dramatic try in the 83rd minute from Lee Armstrong sent the whole place crazy and almost lifted the roof right off the famous stand. The Greens had pulled off a dramatic victory in the last play of the game, giving them a real chance of snatching that prized promotion place from under the noses of their Clydeside rivals.

There were stars on the pitch who could change a match in a heartbeat, but they were well shackled by the Hawks’ defence – a rearguard which has the best record in the league by a mile.

Rory Hutton’s part for Hawick was reduced to a 10-minute cameo role right at the end following a day of sickness which forced him to withdraw from the starting line-up moments before kick-off. Graham Hogg stepped in at fly half in one of the most important games for the club in recent times – and put in a man-of-the-match performance.

The scoring up to Armstrong’s try consisted exclusively of penalties, from Neil Renwick in the first half plus Mike Adamson’s two after the break. Both missed kicks at goal on a bleak, freezing afternoon.

There was a huge release of tension at the end when Hawick turned the ball over 10m from the Hawks’ try line. Greg Cottrell passed to Hogg, who threw a long and accurate ball out to Armstrong. Armstrong had Adamson – one of Scottish club rugby’s best players and former Scotland sevens internationalist –to beat. Armstrong dummied him and pinned his ears back as he threw himself towards the line.

It was a magical moment and one to savour.

Hawick are now 13 points clear with one game to play – against Jed-Forest on March 23 with the added twist that a win at Riverside Park would probably send Jed out of the National League, but could promote the Greens back to the Premiership.

After the final whistle, Greens coach Phil Leck was more animated than usual: “The Hawks’ defence is not the best in the league for nothing and they frustrated everything we tried to do. We fought and scrapped for everything.”

Shawn Muir, who played half an hour the night before in the Scotland under-20 win against Ireland and then turned out for the Greens to play the full match, said: “It’s been a crazy couple of days. But I’ve been looking forward to this game for a long time and winning like we did was not very good for my health!

“I love playing for my country, but I love playing for my hometown. It’s been an unbelievable year for me.”

z You can watch the dramatic closing moments unfold on Borders Rugby TV at www.BordersRugby.net

Hawick: N. Renwick; N. McColm, L. Armstrong, G. Johnstone, J. Coutts; G. Hogg, G. Cottrell; S. Muir, L. Gibson, L. Launders, R. Smith, D. Lowrie, N. Mactaggart, S. Graham, K. Davies. Subs: M. Landels, H. Scammell, B. Keown, R. Hutton, S. Anderson.

Coldstream Amateurs 7

Selkirk Victoria 4

BAL DIVISION B

SELKIRK’S promotion hopes were dealt a blow on Saturday by a resurgent Coldstream, who have now won four games in a row.

The first half was played in terrible conditions.

Heavy snow fell before and during the game, which resulted in poor visibility and soft underfoot conditions, and this undoubtedly contributed to a flurry of goals in the first half an hour.The visitors started brightly and were 2-0 up after 10 minutes thanks to a quickfire double from Alistair Orr.

But Coldstream fought back straight away and a mixture of sloppy defending and clinical finishing saw the Vics concede five goals in the space of 20 minutes.

Captain Grant Brownlee got the visitors back into the game in 55 minutes with a neat finish at the back post from a Nathan Douglas free kick.

However, the Berwickshire outfit again responded strongly and two good finishes put the game out of sight at 7-3.

In the closing stages, Ryan Clapperton set up young Patrick Matheson who bagged his first Vics goal with a nice finish at the near post.

Selkirk have seven league games remaining and will need to improve if they are to remain in contention for promotion.

This weekend, however, they have no game.

Vale of Leithen 2

Preston Athletic 4

EoS PREMIER DIVISION

DAVE RYCE reports from Victoria Park

AS ANYONE who has lived next door to someone learning to play a musical instrument knows, listening to the same tune played repeatedly can get a bit tedious.

So it is with Vale just now. If certain events from this match sound familiar – a first half in which the Innerleithen men were the better side, an equaliser just before half-time and a winner from the opposition late in the game, for example – it’s because you’ve probably read about them many times already this season.

Vale certainly didn’t hit many wrong notes during the opening 45 minutes, some slick passing moves and sustained pressure on Preston’s goal saw a number of near things before a thoroughly deserved opener in the 37th minute.

Martin Cairney fired a cross towards the back post and Danny Noon controlled the ball on his chest before sweeping it beyond keeper Shaun Thomson.

Although they had hardly been in the game, Preston found an equaliser two minutes before the break as Sean Martin ran on to a long ball to slip it beyond Vale keeper James Hudson.

The visitors almost took the lead early in the second half as Gary McCormack lobbed Hudson, but Jack Blaikie got back to hook off the line and it was Vale who went in front for the second time just past the hour mark as Noon was the victim of a clumsy challenge in the area by Kevin Morrison and the referee pointed immediately to the spot.

Noon picked himself up before placing the penalty into the corner of the net.

But it was a lead that always looked a bit fragile. Preston’s policy of hitting long balls towards their speedy front men looked likely to bring some reward and when a Martin header sneaked inside the far post in the 79th minute, the East Lothian side sensed the points were there for the taking.

Martin completed his hat-trick three minutes from time as a Mark Cherrie free kick was knocked on by McCormack to the striker, who blasted his shot home.

A couple of minutes later, Martin saved his best for last, picking up possession just inside the Vale half before going on a tremendous run through the defence and round keeper Hudson, before rolling the ball home.

Vale of Leithen: J. Hudson, J. Paterson, J. Blaikie, R. McKenzie, R. McWilliams, C. Gordon, M. Cairney, K. Dodds (K. Paterson), D. Noon, W. Sproul and A. Ponton (S. Moffat).

Hawick United 3

Hawick Legion 0

WADDELL CUP FIRST ROUND

A PURPLE patch which produced three goals during the latter stages earned United bragging rights in this hard-fought derby encounter at Albert Park, as well as a place in the second round of the Waddell Cup, writes John Slorance.

United were first to look like scoring when Kevin Strathdee tested deputy keeper Richard Snowdon with a shot in the opening minutes.

After Scott Duncan fired over the bar at the other end, Strathdee struck the woodwork when driving a Kevin Patterson cross against the post. Bryan Tait, Legion’s recent capture from Selkirk, was then just off-target with a close-range shot following a Jory Robertson corner kick.

Minutes later, United keeper Dean Fry kept Legion at bay with a fine save from Robertson.

Snowdon, in turn, thwarted United by tipping a Stuart Drysdale effort round the post.

Although there was a shortage of goals, there was no lack of action as both sides showed plenty of effort and drive. In the 77th minute, however, a goal arrived – and it was United who did the scoring. Jordan Gracie swung over a cross from the left and Scott Storrie, who had been signed the day before from Ancrum, steered the ball into the net with his head.

Three minutes later, United doubled their advantage when Strathdee blasted home a well-struck angled shot.

United were now on a high and, a minute from time, Strathdee completed the scoring from a Ross Scott pass.

Peebles Rovers 1

Berwick Rangers Reserves 4

EoS FIRST DIVISION

BERWICK RANGERS RESERVES maintained their promotion challenge with a fourth successive away victory in a match played on Rovers’ alternative Kerfield pitch, their traditional Whitestone Park home still unplayable.

The Reserves have played better this season, but still packed too big a punch for a Peebles side who beat them at Shielfield in November and upset the form book the previous week with a good home win over another side in the promotion mix, Craigroyston.

Rovers’ manager Jason Girdwood admitted his team had no one to blame but themselves for the heavy defeat.

He told TheSouthern: “Berwick are a young fit side, but we have a good team, too, and my only complaint has to be that some of our own individual performances were not up to scratch. Berwick took their chances and we failed to take ours.

“On a more positive note, we performed better in the second half and shared the plaudits from that. That will give us something to build on in the coming weeks.”

Leading Berwick scorer Josh Morris opened their account with a 25th-minute penalty after former Berwick Under-19 player Darren Linton tripped Phil Addison in the box.

The Reserves went on to build a four-goal lead. Addison got the second from a couple of yards out after a Morris shot was blocked and in the 38th minute, Greig Smith’s chip from outside the penalty area beat outrushing keeper Kris Lennie.

Peebles’ best first-half chance came in between Berwick’s opening goals but Duncan Muir hit the post after winning a one-on-one with the opposing defender.

Six minutes beyond the break, Callum Wyllie went past Linton and sent in a low cross meant for Greig Smith.

Defender Greg Shortreed got in the way, only to end up putting the ball into his own net.

The home side’s consolation goal came late on.

Rangers’ substitute Nick Rendall, on the field barely a minute, was penalised for bundling over Gareth Manson. Craig Edgar was on target from the spot to finally give the fair-sized home crowd something to cheer.

Peebles Rovers: K. Lennie, D. Linton, P. Hunter, G. Shortreed, G. Young, N. Cairns, J. Adamson, J. Manson, C. Edgar, M. McKenzie, D. Muir. Subs used: G. Manson, D. O’Donnell.

Hawick Waverley 2

Heart of Liddesdale 1

BAL DIVISION A

HEARTS had the better of a first half during which they twice hit the woodwork, as well as breaking the deadlock through a well-taken Daniel Brough goal.

In the second period, however, it was to be a different story as a revitalised Waverley ruled the roost.

Knuckling down to the job in hand, Waverley were back on terms when Liam Lavery notched an equaliser with a shot after having cut in from the flank.

Ross Wallace grabbed what was to be the winner by prodding home a shot from close range from a Dean McColm corner.

Craigroyston 4

Gala Fairydean 1

EoS FIRST DIVISION

KENNY PATERSON reports from St Mark’s Park

IT was fitting that Gala Fairydean put in their most dismal performance of 2013 in the surroundings of Craigroyston’s St Mark’s Park.

The Edinburgh ground will not rival Barcelona’s Nou Camp for fame or Braga’s quarry-carved stadium for dramatic scenery, with a set of allotments and a crematorium either side providing a gloomy setting.

Gala did at least score a goal to match both of the former stadia through Scott Nightingale’s spectacular 30yd volley, but it proved to be merely a consolation.

Fairies boss Garry Fraser conceded the better team won, as possibly the youngest Gala side ever saw their promotion hopes surely end.

He said: “Craigroyston are a decent side, but we gave away too many cheap goals, which is not good enough.”

One of the few Gala players to get pass marks, according to the Dean’s management team, was Colin Jeffrey.

Filling in at centre half, he did play a part in the opening goal for the hosts after just five minutes, as Steven Moncur peeled off the Gala defender from a Russell Hogarth long ball to slot a shot under Elliot Turnbull.

However, Jeffrey recovered to put in a commendable shift against a Craigroyston team who will be promotion contenders.

They dominated the first period, and Gala captain Turnbull had to make a fantastic fingertip stop to deny Mark Hendrie with a curling 12-yard effort.

The Gala goalie then produced an incredible double save, palming away Moncur’s shot before jumping to his feet to tip Craig Dickson’s follow-up on to his crossbar.

But the keeper’s heroics were not matched by his side’s defending from the resultant Hogarth corner, which Errol Douglas stabbed into the net for a 36th-minute second goal.

It could have been worse for the visitors, were it not for Turnbull making another superb save from Hendrie two minutes before the break.

When the Gala number one tipped over Dickson’s shot just after half-time, it appeared Craigie would dominate the second half just as they did the first.

But the home side were completely stunned on 50 minutes when the ball sat up for Nightingale, who thumped a dipping shot over the head of Craigroyston goalkeeper Stuart Burnside. It could be regarded as a lucky strike, had Nightingale not scored with similar efforts on numerous occasions previously.

Craigie were now on the back foot, and some panic could be detected in the home ranks.

However, pint-sized forward Dickson sealed the points with his head in the closing stages.

He firstly produced a skilful 12-yard header from a John Dunn corner which found the top corner of the net on 74 minutes, and 10 minutes from time he dived on to the end of Hogarth’s cross.

Gala Fairydean: E. Turnbull, B. Lochrie, A. Brown, C. Jeffrey, S. Davidson, G. Gass, M. Berry (R. Hewitson 69), B. Miller, J. Hay, S. Nightingale, M. Fairburn (Hointza 79).

Burntisland Shipyard 3

Hawick Royal Albert 2

EoS FIRST DIVISION

A GOAL in the closing minutes sent Royal Albert reeling to defeat in Fife.

Against fellow strugglers Burntisland, Hawick got off to promising start by going ahead on the quarter-hour when teenager Declan Hogg found the net with a well-struck drive.

But the hosts levelled in the second half before going on to take the lead.

The Albert hit back to make it 2-2 when Hogg grabbed his second goal of the match, nodding in a Peter Keenan cross.

However, with time running out, Burntisland bagged what proved to be the winner.

Hawick Royal Albert: S. West, I. Zenati, R. Shepherd, K. Fettes, K. McCulloch, G. Ramsay, J. Paterek, D. Hogg, P. Keenan, C. Beattie, trialist. Subs: S. Drummond, M. King, trialist, trialist.

Selkirk 2

Kelso Utd 0

EoS FIRST DIVISION

KEVIN JANIAK reports from Yarrow Park

IT WAS Jamie Gibson’s delightful double that won Selkirk the points on Saturday, but the Kelso coach said it was more down to his team being “junk”.

While that statement may have been a little unkind to a team that fairly matched the Souters in terms of posession and territory, they just couldn’t find the net and barely tested John Dodds in the Selkirk goal.

Kelso boss Prof Blaikie told TheSouthern: “We were junk. We dominated the game – Selkirk should never have been in it – but we huffed and puffed and made silly mistakes.

“I’m gutted. We have experienced players and I don’t think they asked enough questions, and I have told them they have really spoiled my night.”

The Tweedsiders came to Yarrow Park as slight favourites, given the home side’s poor performance in their last two matches, but that man Gibson proved the difference with another stunning display.

The first goal came from a Kenny Munro free kick, laid on into Gibson’s path by Jason Ingles and the striker looped the ball beautifully over visitors’ keeper Scott Dowie.

And while the first was a show of precision, the second, in the 78th minute, was one of sheer power.

It came from a Kelso corner. The Tweedsiders were fairly feckless in front of goal, and this time proved no different. The ball was cleared, and the only Selkirk man up front was Gibson. Once the ball was at his feet, he turned, put his head down, and headed for the box like a speeding train.

His speed caught the Kelso defence unawares and he found himself facing Dowie one-on-one. A quick look up was all that was required and he blasted the ball into the top right corner of the net. Dowie’s hands were a couple of feet away, but even if he had tipped it, there was no chance of it ever going anywhere else but the back of the net.

And when Gibson wasn’t scoring goals, he was running incessantly, testing the defence, trying to gain that elusive extra yard. If there was a blade of grass he didn’t step on, it was a lucky one.

He came in for some high praise from delighted manager Mike McKinnon.

He said: “Jamie’s a dream to work with. Wherever you put him, he works his socks off and he does what you tell him to do.

“He’s got two goals today and that will do his confidence the world of good, and he needs that.

“He’s a good lad, but he absolutely hates not scoring goals. He’s a striker, that’s what they do.”

Gibson was backed up mightily by Ryan McManus, Andy Noble and David Battle, while the defence played their part in ensuring Kelso did not score.

The Tweedsiders did have a few high spots, however. Liam Wallace is a delight to watch, while Chris Black and Des Burnett always manage to look dangerous when on the ball.

But there were too few attempts on goal to increase their chances of scoring. Sean Angus went close early in the first half after Jordan Lauder’s cheeky cutback, and their best chance came from substitute Mark Harker late on the second, whose dipping shot was heading goalwards, but John Dodds was able to shake himself awake and tip it over the bar.

Selkirk: J. Dodds, L. Stephen, K. Munro, E. Pritchard, J. Inglis, R. McManus, A. Noble (A. Butters 83 mins), R. Gay (C. Peoples 70 mins), J. Gibson, J. Watt (M. Holness 70 mins) and D. Battle.

Kelso Utd: S. Dowie, J. McCutcheon (G. Mabon 80 mins), S. Angus, D. McNulty, G. McNulty, S. Tait, G. Gillie (S. Harker 70 mins), C. Black, D. Burnett, L. Wallace and J. Lauder (C. Webb 75 mins).

IT’S Potato Day in Kelso on Sunday when home producers have the chance to buy tubers from Borders Organic Gardeners (BOG).

There will be more than 100 varieties of earlies and maincrops, offering great chippers, mashers and boilers, arranged alphabetically around the hall, and BOG is keeping prices the same as last year at 14p per tuber.

BOG’s David Banks said: “BOG Potato Day is the biggest one-day potato event in the United Kingdom and this year is more important than ever before: after a disastrous 2012 for local agriculture, prices are bound to rocket, especially for badly-hit supermarket potatoes.

“There is special interest in the blight-resistant tatties this year. The Sarpo varieties bred in Hungary proved highly popular and effective last year and that range has been extended in 2013, helped by a donation from BOG to the Savari Trust, which produces these wonderful varieties.”

There will also be garlic, shallot and onion sets for sale and stalls selling garden equipment, crafts, local produce, seeds and garden sundries, as well as stalls manned by environmental organisations. There will also be tea, coffee, cakes and lunches available, a children’s area, information centre and advice available from BOG’s potato experts.

The 18th annual Potato Day takes place at Springwood Hall in the Border Union Showground between 11am and 3pm. Entry is £1, children free.

INNERLEITHEN campaigners hoping to create a mountain bike lift on the outskirts of the town will give an update on the project at a public meeting on Wednesday evening.

Action on the Innerleithen Mechanical Uplift (AIMUp) representatives will speak at Scottish Borders Council’s Tweeddale Area Committee and hope to know by then if Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) has given it the go-ahead to use land in Elibank and Traquair Forest for the lift and a toboggan run.

One of the charity’s directors, Ian Campbell, said: “We’re waiting on a decision that’s now with a director. We will know by mid-March at the latest. We are hopeful.”

He said the group wanted to go to funders with planning permission – gained in December last year – and control of the land on which they hope to site the 1.4km low profile, rail-mounted system to take mountain bikers up to Plora Rigg . The toboggan run will be of a similar design, without the need for towers or overhead wires, running 1.1km back down the hill.

The £5.5million project, which campaigners say could create over 100 jobs, was first talked about nearly eight years ago.

Mr Campbell said: “The main focus now is to identify sources of capital funding. We are doing a lot of preparatory work and speaking to people in government and local government, preparing the way and identifying the right people to speak to.”

He hoped local supporters would turn out for the meeting in the town’s Memorial Hall.

He said: “It’s a chance for folks to find out specifics they might like to know and it’s another way of the community showing the council how much support they have for it. If we can get a good turnout, it speaks volumes.”

The meeting starts at 7.30pm.

Last week, I flagged up some of the harbingers of spring which I had experienced and at the weekend another, more unexpected one, came to my attention.

Lying in bed on Sunday morning I heard a sound I hadn’t heard since around the same time last year.

At first light, the unmistakable rat-a-tat of a local cock chaffinch tapping on the perspex window above the front door, drifted up the stairs.

Unbelievably, this is the fourth year he has demonstrated this extremely antisocial behaviour.

He sees his reflection in the window and thinks it is a rival male who requires removal from his patch. Most wild garden birds only live two or three years as there is such a high predation rate, but this chap looks to be doing well and is around five.

Chaffinches can live to around 10, but rarely do so. It looks like I’ll have to get out the white paper again to stick to the inside of the window to kill his reflection before he kills himself.

A few weeks ago, a member of a local hillwalking club popped in to 
see me with a picture taken of a mystery fungus he’d taken on an outing at Ladhope Golf Course near Galashiels.

In mid-winter, there’s not a lot of fungi around and this bright yellow one caught his eye, growing on the stem of a whin bush. It was gelatinous in nature and made up of shiny irregular folds. I’m no expert in this hugely diverse and complicated field, but this one I was fairly confident about. It goes by the name of yellow brain fungus, or to give it its Sunday name, Tremella mesenterica, and is fairly widespread throughout the Borders. In some books it is described as inedible, but this is because it is bland and flavourless, not poisonous. The Chinese have been known to use it to add texture to soup.

Chemically, however, it is much more valuable and the species is known to  produce polysaccharides that are of interest to the medical field, because of their biological activity; several patents have been filed in China pertaining to the use of these compounds for cancer prevention or immune system enhancement.

It just goes to show that even a slimy piece of fungus resembling a lump of brain tissue is not without interest.

UPGRADING the Borders main roads is vital to increasing tourism in the area, according to Scottish Borders Council chief executive Tracey Logan.

Ms Logan, along with director of environment and infrastructure Rob Dickson, made the comment in a response to VisitScotland’s draft development plan consultation, to be considered by councillors today.

But the senior officials also criticised VisitScotland’s for failing to include councils in putting together the document.

Ms Logan and Mr Dickson wrote: “It is concerning that this plan has been developed with all the executive agencies of Scottish Government, but that there is no mention of COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) or local authority involvement in developing this document.

“In view of the focus on spatial planning, and the link to local development plans, it would have made sense to seek more input at an earlier stage from COSLA and local authority representatives.”

As well as suggesting improvements to the A1, A7 and A68, SBC’s response also discussed the possibility of Eyemouth port being used for cruise and leisure boats, better hotel and self-catering accommodation and opportunities around the Borders Railway, mountain-biking and diving.

Around 5,000 jobs are supported in the Borders by tourism, generating £170million for the region’s economy.

VisitScotland say its national development plan will aim to grow the tourism industry in Scotland up to 2020.

COUNCILLORS will be asked today to re-consider a controversial report on commercial forestry in the Ettrick Valley.

Earlier this month, Scottish Borders Council’s environment and infrastructure committee approved proposals to remove Ettrick and Kirkhope parishes’ sensitive status in its new five-year woodland strategy.

The decision angered Selkirkshire member and Ettrick Valley resident Vicky Davidson, who argued it would reduce the protection of the valley from further large-scale planting applications.

Valley residents raised concerns as almost 1,200 hectares of new trees were planted in the area in the last two years, leading to SBC successfully applying for the temporary status in February 2012.

In her motion to the council, Councillor Davidson writes: “The reason for referring it to full council is that the advice note does not contain adequate safeguards to prevent and control the impacts of large-scale conifer planting on targeted communities and does not take adequate account of changing policy on better integrated land use. 

“A stronger advice note could give protection to a number of pressurised communities in the Scottish Borders.  

“The ‘sensitive’ designation of Ettrick and Kirkhope should remain in place until such effective and specific safeguards are agreed.”

However, SBC landscape officer Jim Knight rejects Councillor Davidson’s suggestion.

He writes: “It is submitted that the advice note (2012) does in fact provide a very robust and clearly defined set of criteria against which the potential adverse effects of large-scale conifer planting can be judged.

“It provides a reasoned basis upon which the Forestry Commission Scotland, as regulator, can judge and, if necessary, refuse new planting applications.

“It also provides a basis for the council, as statutory consultee, to object to an application that does not satisfy the criteria.”

Mr Knight added that if the council were to retain the Ettrick Valley’s sensitive status instead of replacing it with preferred and potential, as proposed, any objections to future applications would likely be rejected by the FCS.

Mr Knight also wrote: “Importantly the new advice note permits the council to take into consideration the economic and social implications of permitting new planting where it was previously restricted to considering only the environmental impacts when considering planting schemes.

“This allows significantly more weight to be given to the views and needs of local communities.”

However, Ettrick and Yarrow Community Council have backed Ms Davidson’s opposition to the removal of sensitive status, claiming the advice note is biased, adding that large scale commercial planting on farm land and open spaces “destroys communities”.

Yet, the Selkirk Branch of the National Farmers Union backed the introduction of planting schemes alongside farming to boost the local economy.

A spokesman wrote: “We have always believed there should be a fair and balanced approach to forestry in the Southern Uplands.

“It has come to our attention that some community councils (particularly Ettrick and Yarrow) want a complete halt to any more forestry.

“This is not the view of many local landlords who believe that forestry can play its part in any future changes to a sheep farming enterprise.

“A few examples of this working very well are at the top of the Ettrick Valley, where employment has been generated with shepherding and forestry maintenance.”

A drunken man found unconscious on the stairs to a pub cellar has been jailed for seven months and 75 days.

Paul Cessford, 31, of Queens Croft, Kelso, appeared from custody and pleaded guilty to breaching an ASBO (antisocial behaviour order) prohibiting him from behaving in a drunken and disorderly manner at Roxburgh Street in the town on February 8. He also admitted being drunk and incapable at the Co-op in Roxburgh Street and again breaching his ASBO four days later.

Kate McGarvey, prosecuting, said police received an anonymous call saying the accused was extremely drunk and staggering along Roxburgh Street. She added: “He fell on the bonnet of a stationary vehicle, but police searched the area and couldn’t find him.”

A member of staff at the White Swan pub saw him stagger into the bar, banging from wall to wall. “She assumed he had left and then heard the sound of someone falling and found him unconscious, head first and face down, on the stairway to the cellar,” said Ms McGarvey.

An ambulance was called and Cessford was taken to Borders General Hospital and found to be suffering from “acute alcohol intoxication”. He was deemed unfit for police custody when complaining of hallucinations and transferred to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Four days later, Cessford staggered into the Co-op and headed for the alcohol aisle.

“He was guided into the warehouse, away from customers, but had slumped on the floor in a semi-conscious state, and an ambulance was called,” added Ms McGarvey.

Maureen Sinclair, defending, said her client was an alcoholic who had repeatedly committed similar offences since November 2010, adding: “He realises he is going to spend much of his life in prison if he keeps offending.”

A carer who embezzled more than £6,000 from a vulnerable woman was jailed for 12 months at Jedburgh Sheriff Court on Friday.

Helen Gibson, 54, of Pirnie Hall Farm Cottage, Kelso, appeared on indictment and admitted embezzling £6,250 between December 2008 and December 2010.

Depute procurator fiscal Kate McGarvey told how Gibson began work as a support carer for Choices Care Services in August 2005.

She went on: “They care for people with learning disabilities and she was allocated to a 35-year-old woman suffering from Down’s Syndrome.”

The prosecutor added: “She attended daily for four hours per day, doing daily tasks.”

In 2008, the accused attended a carers’ course.

“She was informed of the vulnerability of clients and the dangers of handling clients’ money, and certain loopholes which had to be protected against in the interests of the clients,” continued Ms McGarvey.

In the course of her work, Gibson withdrew sums of money from the woman’s savings account at the bank. Withdrawals were noted in a lodgings book and the crime was uncovered after the client decided to go on holiday.

“It came to light that the accused was withdrawing a larger amount of money than was being noted in the lodgings book and that the money in the woman’s savings book was substantially short,” said the prosecutor.

Ms McGarvey gave an example of a withdrawal of £200, where only £100 showed in the lodgings book.

“This went on over two years, and she would pocket the difference,” she added.

Gibson made full admissions to police.

“She said that the idea came to her after the training course, when the loopholes which had to be protected against were discussed,” said Ms McGarvey.

Gibson’s solicitor, describing his client as ashamed, told the hearing: “The family was in financial difficulty and this money was for essential household bills, not for any extravagance.”

He said Gibson – a first offender – was at low risk of reoffending and proposed a community-based penalty, adding: “A custodial sentence is not necessary for the protection of the public and custody would have a dramatic effect on her family.”

But Sheriff Derrick McIntyre, imposing a prison term, told the accused: “This was a very serious breach of trust committed over a two-year period, when you were supposed to be looking after a vulnerable young lady with mental health difficulties.

“You knew exactly what you were doing and that it was wrong.”