Work is under way on projects to benefit the Ettrick and Yarrow Valleys.

Results of feasibility studies into several schemes to boost business are expected by the end of September, with a detailed report on the way forward due in December.

Ettrick and Yarrow development project officer Julie Nock said contractors Babyhydro found one feasible scheme to generate 14-21Kw of hydro electric power in the upper Ettrick and that the Ettrick and Yarrow Community Development Company (EYCDC) needed to decide if it wanted to take that forward.

Consultants Scotland Tourism Solutions are producing tourism packages, interpretation and literature to increase visitors to the area and hope to work closely with the valleys tourism group.

And Julie said work on walking and off-road cycling routes at St Mary’s, Bowhill and Minchmoor to Yarrowford is expected to be completed by mid-September and consultants TP&E planned to attend EYCDC’s meeting this month.

Gala Fairydean Rovers 1

Dalbeattie Star 4

LOWLAND LEAGUE

KEVIN JANIAK reports from Netherdale

THREE matches into the new season, and Gala Fairydean Rovers have a single point to their name.

It’s certainly not the most stunning of starts, and the players have found it difficult to stamp their authority on the Lowland League, given the quality of the opposition.

And on Saturday, the gulf in class was fairly evident. The Fairies’ biggest problem at the moment lies at the back. They’ve leaked eight goals over the three games and most of them on Saturday were avoidable.

Their ability to react quickly to a quick break or a well-timed long ball allowed the sharper Dalbeattie players to take their chances, almost at a stroll.

Asked what was wrong, Gala boss Stevie Noble said: “I can’t put my finger on it. But we’ll get there. We’ll talk about it and work on some defensive aspects at training because we have lost too many cheap goals so far.”

Jamie Struthers opened the scoring in the 10th minute. He picked the ball up just inside the Gala half and set off on a looping run into the box and slipped the ball into the net past Dodds.

Struthers did look like Dalbeattie’s most dangerous player and Gala must have breathed a hesitant sigh of relief when he had to be subbed after taking a knock in the 24th minute, replaced by gangly ginger-headed Hugh Cameron.

Unfortunately for the home side, Cameron turned out to be even more dangerous than his predecessor.

He made it 2-0 after finding himself with the ball in space, and four minutes later he hit the third, winding his way in from the left and shooting home from an acute angle.

Jamie Gibson narrowed the gap from the spot after he was taken down by Dalbeattie’s Kevin Neilson, but the three-goal gap was reinstated, with Cameron again in the mix – his shot across goal looked as though it would sneak in at the left hand post, but Jack Steele made sure of the counter by nipping in and knocking it wide of the Gala keeper.

Gala were not completely outplayed. They did, indeed, enjoy a large amount of the ball and had several close encounters with the opposition goal. They were also the victims of a couple of very dodgy refereeing calls, onw of which saw Stuart Noble being taken down two yards inside the box, only to be given a free kick instead of a penalty, in an otherwise fairly uneventful second half.

However, for all Gala’s good points, it is certain that they need to shore up that back line so that all the good work they do elsewhere is not for naught.

Dalbeattie now top the new league, while Gala sit third from bottom. This early in the season, table positions are almost always false. Going by Saturday’s display, however, it feels about right.

Gala Fairydean Rovers: J. Dodds, A. Nicol, K. Collins, J. Inglis, C. McBride (R. Grant 53 mins), D. Bonnar, B. Miller (S. Paliczka 63 mins), M. Berry, S. Noble, J. Gibson and D. McColm (C. Jardine 63 mins).

A initial “scoping” application for six wind turbines up to 80m high has been submitted to the council for an area of land close to Soutra Aisle. Developer ClearWinds Ltd has named the scheme “Dere Street”.

The site lies between Dun Law wind farm on Soutra and the location of the proposed Gilston wind farm, which is currently the subject of an appeal.

AMBITIOUS plans to turn a derelict pub in Hawick’s Burnfoot area into a community hub have been given the go-ahead by council planners.

The Burnfoot Roadhouse has been closed and boarded up for several years, but leaders from the Burnfoot Community Futures group came up with the proposal to turn it into a cafe, nursery, soft play area and office space.

The scheme will see three extensions built, as well as garden areas and a suite of rooms for health practitioners.

A £57,000 lottery grant in May last year enabled the community group to employ designers Camerons to come up with the detailed proposal.

In July this year the proposal topped a list of Borders projects to be considered for Scottish Government funding.

The council picked it ahead of Borders Railway work and Galashiels town improvements for possible cash from the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund.

Later this month a decision will be made by the Scottish Government on the final shortlist of projects which will bid for a slice of the £20.5million pot.

Burnfoot Community Futures has also submitted an application for £1.8million from the Big Lottery Fund to enable the work to be carried out on the Roadhouse.

One kilometre of the Borders Railway track will be laid every day once all advanced works are completed, BAM Nuttall’s Stuart McKay has revealed.

The project manager was discussing the details of the current works taking place – ahead of the physical construction of the railway – at Galashiels Community Council.

He said BAM are currently facing up to a series of challenging sections within the town which need to be tackled promptly, or the project faces delays. Mr McKay added: “The big challenge is the advanced works before the track works.

“If one bridge is not ready within the 30 mile per hour area, it pushes everything back.

“Laying the track is the quickest part of the contract.”

He added that works at Low Buckholmside will be the most complex, with a new bridge being added, while Winston Road and Currie Road/Glenfield will see substantial changes in its landscapes.

CERTAIN housing projects in the Borders have proved so successful that they have been rolled out elsewhere in Scotland.

The schemes, involving the Scottish Futures Trust (SFT), have been highlighted this week as the SFT has unveiled £132 million of savings and benefits secured in the past 12 months.

Tweed Homes’ development of 26 new affordable homes for mid-market rent in Galashiels and a further 25 apartments in Innerleithen were part of an innovative pilot project involving the SFT and the council.

The SFT was also involved with Scotland’s first National Housing Trust project in Scotland, at Balnakiel in Galashiels.

This development was opened in 2011 and is now fully occupied.

The initiative resulted in £146million of additional investment into Scotland’s housing market, with contracts signed to build more than 1,000 new homes.

A total of 74 crimes were recorded in Galashiels, including Langlee, during the last month, PC John Lennon told the town’s community council.

Just under 70 per cent of the incidents were solved.

The commanding officer of the Royal Scots Borderers has been talking about the battalion’s controversial move to a permanent base in Belfast.

Army reformers had said the battalion’s home would be in Edinburgh, but the Northern Ireland posting was confirmed when they were in Afghanistan. Some families and soldiers were unhappy at the news.

Lieutenant Colonel Matt Munro took over command in July. He said he didn’t want to generalise because he hadn’t met all the families, but had met some who, he said, were getting used to the idea.

Colonel Munro commented: “The bottom line is that Edinburgh is a great place to live and work and many soldiers had been there for some time in barracks which are in a super position and had become part of the Edinburgh community.

“But Belfast is a great bustling city and the barracks we are moving into are well equipped and modern. The operational role is challenging and something to look forward to and to get our teeth into at the start of the next chapter for the Royal Scots Borderers.”

He confirmed: “We are taking troops out to Northern Ireland to understand exactly where it is we are going and what there is to offer in terms of housing, jobs for the families and schooling. We have gone to some trouble to look at this in detail and all the feedback I get is very positive.”

Soldiers and their families will make the move to Belfast next summer.

The Royal Scots Borderers are the 1st Battalion (1Scots) of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and formed by the amalgamation of the KOSB and the Royal Scots.

Col. Munro took over command in July from Lt. Col. Ben Wrench who had led the battalion for two years.

A company of 1Scots is currently the Royal Guard at Ballater and Munro says morale is high.

He added: “In recent years the battalion has been busy in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is now an opportunity for us to get back into a routine where we can train progressively. Where we can, I hope, spend more time with our families and enjoy being a battalion, and enjoy the aspects of barrack life and battalion life which perhaps we haven’t been able to enjoy so fully in recent years on the basis of it being so busy.”

He added:”Morale is high. There is plenty to keep us busy and plenty to look forward to.”

Col. Munro was born in Australia to a Scottish father and joined The Highlanders in 1996. He saw operational service in Northern Ireland and Kosovo, and was in the Gulf in 2003.

He was also in Afghanistan with the Black Watch and on the NATO staff based in Kabul.

IN THE latest skirmish between Scotland and England, the Scots were pipped at the post at Wembley.

And 500 years ago, the English won by a lot more, cleaving through their neighbours in the Flodden massacre.

But on Sunday, the Scottish longbow men and women will look to claw back some respectability in the Flodden Clout tournament.

Organiser Jim Craig of the Ettrick Forest club, said: “We aim to have as many entrants as possible, but scoring for the trophy – the Flodden Shield, donated by Flodden 500 of Selkirk – will be based on the scores of eight ladies and juniors and eight gentlemen per team.

“Individuals will also be shooting for silver and bronze Ettrick Forest Archers medals, awarded for highest combined double clout scores, single round scores and a shoot-off by ends.”

Two rounds each of 36 arrows will be shot. Ladies and juniors will shoot at 120 yds, and gentlemen at 180 yds. Those who have recorded the highest amount of best ends will compete in the shoot-off.

The competition will take place at Thirladean, near Selkirk, assembly at 10.30am for an 11am start. It is hoped that this will be an annual shoot, which would appear in the British Longbow Society’s events guide.

Full details and maps are are available by emailing Jim on evandjimcraig@yahoo.co.uk

Kelso United 2 Eyemouth United 3

ALEX JACK CUP

Eyemouth progressed to the second round of the Alex Jack Cup with a last minute winner from full back Leigh Walker at Woodside Park.

The game got off to a slow start with both teams getting bogged down in midfield encounters and although Eyemouth pressed for most of the first half the closest the visitors came to scoring was when midfielder Martin Tait hit the crossbar from a free kick.

Kelso should have gone into the break with a goal when Chris Baillie burst from midfield into the box however the number six blasted wide with only Eyemouth keeper Paul Tansey to beat.

The game came to life in the second half as Kelso scored two goals within five minutes of the re-start. The first came from a mistake from Tansey as he tried to kick a back pass from his defence the keeper missed the ball completely and Calum McClure nipped in to knock the ball into the empty net. The home side made it two when McClure outstripped the home defence down the left and squared for Des Burnett to ram home from close range.

Eyemouth reduced the deficit within a minute when leading striker Steven Shennon found room in the box from a cross by Kiren Bullen to head home.

Elliott Turnbull in the home goal was then at full stretch to tip over a Stuart Coyle shot from the edge of the box.

Kelso had another chance on the hour when Andy Noble was through on goal but somehow the winger got his legs in a tangle and the ball went inches past the post.

The visitors then scored in the next attack when again Shennon was given space in the box by the home defence and he took advantage by firing a right foot shot past the diving Turnbull.

Kelso’s Grant Gass then had a couple of shots on goal the first saved by Tansey and the second blocked by defender Walker.

Shennon almost got his hat trick when he saw his header saved on the line by Turnbull following good work by Coyle.

Eyemouth then had strong claims for a penalty when a shot from Shennon struck Burnett on the hand but referee Alan Hogg waved play on.

The home side were now out on their feet following their exertions at Hibs in midweek and Eyemouth took advantage in the last minute when a move down the right found Walker on the left side of the box, the full back side footing a left foot shot into the net to give the visitors victory.

Kelso United: E. Turnbull, D. McNulty, S. Tait, D. Bowie, P. Dumma, C. Baillie, A. Noble (S. Bonnington 75), G. Gass, D. Burnett, C. McClure, J. Lauder (L. Hill 89).

A 32-year-old man will appear at Selkirk Sheriff Court today charged in connection with a serious sexual assault in the Langlee area of Galashiels on Friday.

The man was detained on Saturday evening after police issued an appeal for information about the incident, which took place at a property in Beech Avenue and involved a 36-year-old female victim.

Police say they carried out “robust enquiries” following the incident, with police vehicles stationed at Larchbank Street in the Netherdale area during Saturday and Sunday.

Hawick Royal Albert 2 Ormiston 1

EOS QUALIFYING LEAGUE

Royal Albert ended up on the right end of the result, as well as pulling off a rare achievement of winning two games in succession, despite playing almost the entire second half with only ten men.

With neither side making much impact, the game got off to a quiet start, with the first piece of serious action arriving after the quarter hour mark when Ormiston keeper David Simmonds pulled off an excellent save from a Paul Russell header, following a Declan Hogg corner kick.

With 22 minutes gone, Ormiston broke the deadlock when Connor Ramage took full advantage of some slipshod Hawick defending to run in and score.

The Albert came rallying back and Kevin Strathdee and Mikey Smith were both denied goals by excellent stops from Simmonds

Six minutes into the second period, Albert’s Sean Loughlin was red carded for scything down Scott Wright.

Hawick now had an uphill task on their hands but the homesters got on with matters and in the 57th minute snatched an equaliser.

After latching on to a spot on pass from Andy Williamson, Kevin Strathdee produced a piece of deadly finishing in driving a shot out of the reach of Simmonds.

In the 70th minute, ten man Hawick did it all again.

Following some good approach play, Hogg threaded the ball to the feet of Strathdee who fired home.

Ormiston then had a golden opportunity to equalise on being awarded a penalty after Williams had brought down Wright.

There was to be no joy for the visitors though as Fry touched Scott Mackenzie’s spot kick onto the post after diving to his right.

Hawick Royal Albert: D. Fry, K. Fettes, G. Johnston, P. Russell, A. Williamson, S. Loughlin, P. Brown (D. Whillans), D. Hogg, K. Strathdee (M. King), M. Smith, S. Russell (G. Shillinglaw).

A Galashiels man has been remanded in custody after a woman was sexually assaulted in her home on the town’s Langlee housing estate on Friday night.

Darren Richardson made no plea or declaration when he appeared in private before Sheriff Kevin Drummond at Selkirk today.

The case was continued for further examination of the evidence and the 32-year-old will be brought back to court for another private hearing within eight days.

A major operation was launched after Police Scotland said a 36-year-old woman was attacked for a sustained period.

A 32-year-old Galashiels man facing an alleged sexual offence, has been remanded in custody following a private appearance at Selkirk Sheriff Court on Monday.

Darren Richardson made no plea or declaration when he appeared before Sheriff Kevin Drummond, and the case was continued for further examination of the evidence.

Richardson was remanded in custody, pending a further appearance next week.

The court appearance follows an incident in the Langlee area of Galashiels on Friday evening when a 36-year-old woman was alleged to have been the victim of a serious sexual assault.

Scottish Government ministers will today conclude their cabinet visit to Hawick today with a public meeting.

Yesterday, ministers took in various projects across the region. First Minister Alex Salmond visited Hawick’s Wilton Lodge Park to announce £77,000 worth of funding for new tennis courts in the green space.

While at Wilton Lodge Park, Mr Salmond was also presented with an England top with his name on the back and a Union Jack flag by members of BBC Radio 4’s Just A Minute programme.

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop went to Abbotsford House to present a copy of a letter written by Sir Walter Scott to the Marquess of Lothian in 1826.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill went to Selkirk Football Club and Hawick Cemetery to see work carried out by criminals on community payback orders.

And Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Paul Wheelhouse, who is also South of Scotland MSP, opened a Tweed Valley Railway Path at Cardrona and saw work going on to lower the flood risk in Eddleston and Peebles.

First Minister Alex Salmond has announced that discussions are underway to secure symbolic trains to attract more tourists to use the Borders Railway.

Speaking from Hawick as part of the Scottish Government’s summer cabinet programme, Mr Salmond announced that the initiative would begin as soon as the line opened, with plans already underway to secure a famous steam train for the launch ceremony.

Mr Salmond said: “There can be few railway journeys anywhere to match the stunning scenery that will line the route of the new Borders Rail when it opens in 2015, more than 40 years after the last rail service to the region closed.

“As well as a vital commuter route, the reopened line will provide outstanding opportunities for tourism in the Borders, with passengers expected to flock to see the many fantastic attractions and experiences on offer here, not to mention the attraction that the new line will have for railway enthusiasts

“We have already announced plans to expand the proposed new station at Tweedbank to cope with the influx of tourist trains expected on the line after its completion, and I hope that the glorious thought of some historic and symbolic trains winding their way down the new 30 mile track will be enough to tempt even more people to spend some time in the Borders.”

BOWLING

GENTS BORDER BOWLING LEAGUE

August 14

Division one

Melrose 117 Ettrick Forest 60

Jedburgh 56 Earlston 92

Abbotsford 88 Ancrum 53

Selkirk 98 Kelso 69

Waverley 91 Wilton 71

P W D F A Diff Pts

Melrose 18 14 1 1536 1268 +268 29

Waverley 18 14 0 1492 1273.5 +218.5 28

Abbotsford 18 11 0 1504 1363 +141 22

Kelso 18 10 0 1445 1417 +28 20

Jedburgh 18 8 3 1440 1443 -3 19

Earlston 18 9 0 1420 1397.5 +22.5 18

Ancrum 18 6 2 1387 1445 -58 14

Wilton 18 6 1 1399 1458 -59 13

Selkirk 18 6 1 1385 1483 -98 13

Ettrick Forest 18 2 0 1213 1673 -460 4

Division TWO

Gala 81 Lauder 91

P W D F A Diff Pts

Hawick 14 12 0 1280 917 +363 24

Lauder 14 9 1 1154 1068.75 +85.25 19

St Ronans 14 9 0 1174 962 +212 18

Buccleuch 14 8 1 1198 1078.25 +119.75 17

Gala 14 8 0 1090 1096 -26 16

Stow 14 4 0 975 1233.75 -258.75 8

Peebles 14 3 0 814.75 1043 -228.25 4

Newtown 14 2 0 812 1099 -287 2

Division THREE

P W D F A Diff Pts

Wilton B 10 8 0 629 483.25 +145.75 16

Waverley B 10 7 1 645 589.75 +55.25 15

Kelso B 10 5 1 542 539.75 +2.25 11

Abbotsford B 10 5 0 596.75 607.75 -11 10

Hawick B 10 3 0 593 607 -34 6

Gala B 10 1 0 396.75 587 -210.25 -2

* – deducted points

SENIORs LEAGUE

August 13

Buccleuch 75 Peebles 47

Newtown 50 Jedburgh 53

Hawick 53 Wilton 39

Gala 67 Earlston/Melrose 50

Abbotsford 57 Selkirk/Ettrick Forest 44

P W D F A Diff Pts

Selkirk/Ett. Forest 14 11 1 817 681 +116 23

Wilton 13 10 0 766 607 +159 20

Kelso 13 8 1 730 660 +70 17

Jedburgh 14 7 2 725 730 -5 16

Gala 13 7 0 736 703 +33 14

Earlston/Melrose 14 6 1 753 744 +9 13

Hawick 14 6 1 715 767 -52 13

Buccleuch 14 6 0 743 758 -15 12

Abbotsford 14 5 0 695 749 -74 10

Peebles 13 4 0 652 776 -124 8

Newtown 12 1 0 563 720 -157 2

Football

Scottish Lowland League

August 17

Division one

East Kilbride 4 Selkirk 1

Gala Fairydean Rovers 1 Dalbeattie Star 4

Gretna 2008 2 Edinburgh City 1

Preston Athletic 1 Vale of Leithen 2

Spartans 2 University of Stirling 1

Threave Rovers 2 Whitehill Welfare 5

P W D L F A pts

Dalbeattie 3 2 1 0 8 4 7

Vale of Leithen 3 2 1 0 5 2 7

Spartans 3 2 1 0 4 2 7

Whitehill Welfare 3 2 0 1 9 5 6

Gretna 2008 3 2 0 1 7 3 6

East Kilbride 3 2 0 1 6 3 6

Stirling University 3 2 0 1 6 4 6

Threave 3 0 2 1 3 6 2

Edinburgh City 3 0 1 2 4 6 1

Gala Fairydean Rov 3 0 1 2 6 11 1

Selkirk 3 0 1 2 2 10 1

Preston Athletic 3 0 0 3 5 9 0

EAST OF SCOTLAND LEAGUE

August 17

pREMIER dIVISION

Civil Service Strollers 3 Leith Athletic 2

P W D L F A pts

Civil Service Strollers 1 1 0 0 3 1 3

Coldstream 1 1 0 0 2 1 3

Edinburgh University 1 1 0 0 1 1 3

Heriot-Watt Univ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Lothian Thistle Hv 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Spartans EOS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Stirling University EOS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Leith Athletic 1 0 0 1 2 -1 0

Tynecastle 1 0 0 1 1 -1 0

Craigroyston 1 0 0 1 0 -1 0

Qualifying League Section a

Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale 0 Tynecastle 0

P W D L F A pts

Lothian Thistle HV 3 2 1 0 14 11 7

Tynecastle 2 1 1 0 6 2 4

Kelso United 1 1 0 0 1 1 3

Eyemouth United 2 0 0 2 5 -7 0

Civil Service Strollers 2 0 0 2 2 -7 0

Qualifying League Section b

Edinburgh University 0 Stirling University EOS 1

Hawick Royal Albert 2 Ormiston 1

P W D L F A pts

Stirling Univ EOS 2 2 0 0 4 4 6

Hawick Royal Albert 3 2 0 1 7 1 6

Edinburgh University 2 1 0 1 3 2 3

Ormiston 3 1 0 2 2 -3 3

Duns 2 0 0 2 2 -4 0

Qualifying League Section c

Burntisland Shipyard 4 Craigroyston 5

Hibernian EOS 8 Heriot-Watt University 0

P W D L F A pts

Craigroyston 2 2 0 0 8 3 6

Hibernian EOS 2 1 1 0 9 8 4

Leith Athletic 2 1 1 0 6 4 4

Heriot-Watt University 3 1 0 2 4 -7 3

Burntisland Shipyard 3 0 0 3 5 -8 0

Qualifying League Section d

Coldstream 3 Spartans EOS 2

Easthouses Lily MW 0 Berwick Rangers EOS 0

P W D L F A pts

Coldstream 2 2 0 0 6 3 6

Easthouses Lily MW 3 1 1 1 5 -2 4

Spartans EOS 2 1 0 1 6 3 3

Berwick Rangers EOS 2 0 1 1 1 -2 1

Peebles Rovers 1 0 0 1 3 -2 0

aLEX jACK cUP fIRST rOUND

Duns 0 Peebles Rovers 5

Kelso United 2 Eyemouth 3

Border Amateur League

August 17

Wright Cup first round

Gala Hotspur 0 Coldstream Ams 0

(aet – Coldstream won 5-4 on penalties)

Collie Cup quarter-final

Kelso Thistle 7 St Boswells 5

DIVISION A

Greenlaw 1 Stow 4

Hearts of Liddesdale 3 Leithen Rovers 2

Newtown 1 Hawick Waverley 1

Tweeddale Rovers 1 Gala Fairydean Rovers 2

West Barns Star 4 Chirnside Utd 3

P W D L F A pts

Greenlaw 4 3 0 1 8 7 9

Stow 2 2 0 0 7 2 6

Chirnside Utd 4 2 0 2 11 8 6

Hearts of Liddesdale 2 1 1 0 3 2 4

Newtown 3 1 1 1 2 3 4

Leithen Rovers 3 1 0 2 7 6 3

Ancrum 1 1 0 0 5 4 3

West Barns Star 2 1 0 1 6 8 3

Gala Fairydean Rov 3 1 0 2 5 8 3

Hawick Waverley 3 0 2 1 5 6 2

Tweeddale Rovers 3 0 0 3 3 8 0

dIVISION B

Eyemouth Ams 9 Biggar 0

Gordon A Hawick Legion A

Hawick Utd 0 Jed Legion 6

Langholm Legion P Linton Hotspur P

P W D L F A pts

Hawick Legion 2 2 0 0 23 3 6

Eyemouth Ams 3 2 0 1 15 5 6

Coldstream Ams 2 1 1 0 7 3 4

Hawick Utd 3 1 1 1 9 14 4

Jed Legion 1 1 0 0 6 0 3

Gala Hotspur 2 1 0 1 12 7 3

Gordon 2 1 0 1 12 7 3

Linton Hotspur 1 1 0 0 6 3 3

Langholm Legion 1 0 0 1 3 4 0

Biggar 3 0 0 3 4 21 0

Selkirk Victoria 2 0 0 2 0 30 0

dIVISION C

Earlston Rhymers 5 CFC Bowholm0

Hawick Legion Rovers 1 Melrose 3

Tweedmouth Ams 1 Chirnside Utd Colts 0

P W D L F A pts

Earlston Rhymers 3 2 0 1 10 4 6

Melrose 3 2 0 1 8 5 6

Chirnside Utd Colts 3 2 0 1 8 6 6

St Boswells 1 1 0 0 4 2 3

Tweedmouth Ams 1 1 0 0 1 0 3

Kelso Thistle 2 1 0 1 6 6 3

CFC Bowholm 3 1 0 2 7 9 3

Lauder 1 0 0 1 2 4 0

Hawick Legion Rovers 3 0 0 3 2 12 0

Fixtures

Athletics

BORDER ATHLETICS CLASSIC & OPEN SPORTS: Saturday, August 24 – Earlston High School (1pm). See preview on page 88.

LAUDER GAMES: Sunday, August 25 – Lauder Public Park (1.30pm).

Bowling

BORDER FINALS DAY: Saturday, August 24 – At Earlston BC. Junior Singles, Pairs, Senior Fours (10am); Singles, Triples, Fours (12.30pm); Finals due to start around 3.15pm.

BORDERS SENIOR LEAGUE: Tuesday, August 27 – Hawick v Buccleuch; Kelso v Earlston/Melrose; Abbotsford v Peebles; Newtown v Selkirk/Ettrick Forest; Gala v Wilton.

KNOCK-OUT CUP: Wednesday, August 28 – Second round ties.

Cricket

EAST OF SCOTLAND LEAGUES: Saturday, August 24 – Division One, St Boswells v Holy Cross; Division Two, West Lothian II v Gala; Division Three, Broomhall v Kelso; Division Five, Selkirk v Dunfermline Carnegie, Peebles County v Preston Village; Division Seven, Hawick & Wilton v Broomhall II, Heriot’s III v Melrose (1pm).

Border Sunday League: Sunday, August 25 – Hawick & Wilton v Selkirk; Penicuik v Langholm (1.30pm).

Football

IMAGE PRINTERS CUP: Saturday, August 24 – Selkirk v Gretna 2008 (3pm); Peebles Rovers v Craigroyston; Eyemouth United v Hawick Royal Albert (2.30pm);

SCOTTISH LOWLAND LEAGUE: Gala Fairydean Rovers v Preston Athletic; East Kilbride v Vale of Leithen (3pm).

BORDER CUP QUARTER-FINAL: Saturday, August 24 – Greenlaw v Stow (2pm).

WRIGHT CUP QUARTER-FINALS: Saturday, August 24 – Biggar v Linton Hotspur; Coldstream v Eyemouth; Hawick Utd v Gordon (2pm).

COLLIE CUP QUARTER-FINAL: Saturday, August 24 – Melrose v Lauder (2pm).

BAL DIVISION A: Thursday, August 22 – Hawick Waverley v Hearts of Liddesdale; Stow v Gala FR (6.15pm). Saturday, August 24 ‑ Gala FR v Chirnside Utd; Hawick Waverley v Tweeddale Rovers; West Barn Star v Hearts of Liddesdale (2.30pm).

BAL DIVISION B: Thursday, August 22 – Hawick Utd v Langholm Legion; Jed Legion v Selkirk Victoria (6.15pm). Saturday, August 24 ‑ Gala Hotspur v Hawick Legion; Langholm Legion v Jed Legion (2.30pm).

BAL DIVISION C: Thursday, August 22 – Earlston Rhymers v St Boswells; Kelso Thistle v Lauder (6.15pm). Saturday, August 24 – Chirnside UC v Hawick Legion Rovers; Kelso Thistle v Earlston Rhymers; Tweedmouth v CFC Bowholm (2.30pm).

Rugby

RBS PREMIERSHIP: Saturday, August 24 – Gala v Currie; Hawick v Aberdeen; Melrose v Heriot’s (3pm).

RBS NATIONAL LEAGUE: Saturday. August 24 – Kelso v Selkirk; Watsonians v Peebles (3pm).

RBS CHAMPIONSHIP B: Saturday, August 24 – Jed-Forest v Howe of Fife; Aberdeenshire v Hawick YM (3pm).

The Border Bowling League 2013, sponsored by drlightbodypainters.co.uk, concluded last week on a night which saw some rare showers.

The two teams in contention to win the Division One title, Melrose and Waverley, both won their final games, leaving the top of the table tighter than it has been for a few years.

At the end of the day, however, it was Melrose who claimed the title by a single point from their Galashiels-based rivals. Abbotsford had a good final win to stay third, followed by Kelso, Jedburgh and Earlston. Ancrum lost against Abbotsford, but their win over the champions the previous week meant they had secured their Division One spot already.

Wilton and Selkirk were the two teams in danger of being relegated along with Ettrick Forest, who were already resigned to their fate. Selkirk beat Kelso in their final game, but despite drawing level on points with Wilton, the Souters were relegated on shots difference.

Hawick were runaway winners of Division Two, losing just two games. In a four-way fight for second spot, it was Lauder who clinched promotion with a final game win at Gala, St Ronans missing out narrowly once again on promotion. They will be joined in next year’s Division Two by Buccleuch, Gala, Stow, Peebles and Newtown, as well as Selkirk and Ettrick Forest.

Wilton B won Division Three when they had a walkover in their last game against Gala. Waverley B finished a close second, just one point behind.

Attention now turns to the Knock Out Cup and Plate Tournaments which started with preliminary games on Friday, August 16.

All league titles will be presented at the Knock Out Cup finals day at Abbotsford on Saturday, September 14.

The Earlston green is the venue for the Border Bowling Association play-offs on Saturday with a 10am start, see fixtures below for more details.

Borders Bowling Association Seniors have won the prestigious Matt Purdie Trophy for the first time, following a confident win over Midlothian.

The team of 16 started their campaign in July at Kelso BC with a heavy 57-30 shot defeat to West Lothian. Week two saw a better effort, although the margin was narrow with the Borders winning 57-55 against Stirling County at Polmont.

Borders continued to improve in week three with a convincing win against West Fife at Inverkeithing, the score being 41-55, and thoughts were turning to the idea that the team could do well in this competition. Week four saw the Borderers travel to Queensferry where they duly trounced West Fife 57-44.

Played at St Ronans BC, week five started of in rather wet conditions, but both teams played well despite this and what a match it turned out to be with the score tied at 49-49 on the last end. The Borders dug deep and got a four to clinch their fourth win in a row.

Unfortunately, week six at Ayton was again very wet and the game looked in doubt. Hard work by the green staff, however, allowed the game to start and both teams agreed to try and play the 15 ends due to the importance of the situation. It went badly for the Borders, who eventually lost to West Fife by 60-50.

All was not lost, however, as once all the results were in, a final place was their’s.

The deciding match was against Midlothian at Armadale, a lovely day with sunshine and a slight breeze.

Midlothian quickly established a lead, but the determination of the Borders team showed through and from 10 ends to the finish their confidence held and they won the tie 67-47. A very proud and happy president Jim Cumming lifted the trophy on behalf of the Borders team.

The Borders travel to Kinoull Bowling Club in Perth on September 16 for a challenge match against the North, who run a similar competition.

Borders Seniors: J. Effingham, A. Black, B. Tait, W. Weir, P. Butterield, R. Fulton, H. Bell, T. Thorburn, B. Kimber, A. Gammie, A. Condi, G. Brownlee, B. Holloway, R. Bryson, J. Renton and B. Watson.

Galashiels Academy’s sponsorship deal with a tyre firm has hit the skids after advertising signs had to be pulled down.

Senior staff at the school agreed a financial package with the local company during the summer and boards were erected throughout the school grounds.

However, the day before pupils were due to return from the school holidays this week the controversial signs were removed.

Education chiefs at Scottish Borders Council took the decision to take the signs down until they come up with a firm policy for private sponsorship at schools in the region.

The erection of the boards in the past month had split opinions among staff and parents at the school.

One Galashiels Academy parent said: “On one hand it could be seen as an enterprising move by the school to raise much needed funds to help with the education of the pupils and improve the appearance of the school.

“But others felt it was a bit tacky and something a properly-funded school should not have to resort to.”

The school’s main entrance sign in the driveway featured the logo of Ostle’s Tyres with the phrase “A Local Company Supporting Local Education” and the message “Please Drive Carefully”.

The council’s Head of School Services Yvonne McCracken said: “We fully support the involvement of the community in the life of our schools.

“There are a number of excellent examples across the Borders where schools and the community, including local employers, have worked together to greatly enhance the opportunities for young people.

“However, in this case the process of agreeing sponsorship needed further consideration.

“We are grateful to Mr Ostle in agreeing to the removal of the signage and we are having further discussions about how his company can support the school in other ways.”

SBC’s executive member for education, Sandy Aitchison, said: “Negotiations are continuing and there is a need for some clarification whether we can have advertising within schools.

“There are legal issues which need to be addressed.

“We are grateful to Ostle’s Tyres for their involvement in the project and we will hopefully find an amicable solution to the problem in the coming weeks.”