Hawick light welterweight Jack Purvis won a unanimous decision in Stirling on Friday night against the older and more experienced Glen Brown.

Hard-punching 18-year-old Brown, boxing for the 1314 Club, landed some heavy shots in the first minute, but the 16-year-old Hawick fighter was in control by the end of the round.

Purvis won the second with some stylish boxing and scored with some impressive combinations to both head and body.

Brown tired badly at the start of the third and halfway through Purvis looked like he might score a stoppage win.

The judges all scored the bout for Purvis, taking his record to 3-0.

This was his second unanimous win in a fortnight and his next outing is the preliminary of the Scottish Championships at Motherwell in two weeks.

Coach Gareth Walker said: “This was a step-up in class for Jack and there was an element of risk involved. He handled it well and boxed brilliantly for a good win.”

Eleven-year-old Glendinning Primary pupil Lex Rogerson made his amateur boxing debut at the same event where he boxed Colin Cairney from the 1314 Club over three one-minute rounds and despite a plucky performance he lost a unanimous decision.

Rogerson, who travels from Gala three times weekly to train at the Hawick club, rarely took a backward step and gave Cairney lots to think about. Walker said: “Lex boxed very well. He’s a gutsy young lad and he’ll come on from this bout.”

The Hawick club has three entries in this month’s Scottish Championships at Motherwell.

Jack Purvis contests the 64kg division, Macauly Walker (13), challenges for the 48kg title and Connor Sutherland (12) boxes at 44kgs.

A full preview will appear next in week’s paper.

Stew-Mel FP16

Selkirk17

Selkirk managed to preserve their five-match unbeaten run with a dramatic last-minute victory at Inverleith.

Having been behind for 78 minutes of the match, Stewart’s-Melville’s players must have thought they’d snatched victory when Nick McCashin kicked a penalty to put the city men 16-14 ahead with just a minute of regular time remaining.

However, straight from the restart, the home side conceded a penalty 35m out, and Selkirk full-back Josh Welsh, who had already slotted a hat-trick of successful three-pointers, held his nerve to send the kick straight between the posts, giving the visitors their third league win on the road.

Callum Marshall scored Selkirk’s only try.

Unfortunately, victory was not enough to keep the Souters on top of the National One table, as GHA’s bonus-point win against Marr saw the Braidholm club go a point clear.

Hawick High School45

Galashiels Academy15

Hawick High School secured their place in the semi-final of the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools Under-18 regional Plate competition in a quality match that produced eight tries, writes Alan Lorimer.

Now in the third year as a designated School of Rugby, Hawick has benefitted from the fitness and extra training that the SRU programme brings and that certainly showed in the second half when they were able to dominate the game. But early in the first half, Galashiels Academy, who had impressive performances from scrum half Mark Amos, centres Aidan Turner and Andrew Mitchell and prop Neil Turnbull, enjoyed a 15-5 advantage through tries by Turnbull and winger Euan Graham (2).

“We made a lot of errors early in the game and that let them win a lot of territory,” said Hawick High’s coach, Scott Renwick.

Galashiels Academy are undoubtedly handicapped this season by a lack of depth in their squad.

Outstanding for Hawick were hooker Fraser Renwick, centre Matthew Mallin, lock Murray Renwick and midfielder Sean Chapman.

Hawick led 17-15 at the break with first-half tries from locks Renwick and Daniel Suddon and centre Mallin, with one conversion from stand-off Kyle Brunton.

Then, in the second half, Mallin – with two further scores – completed his hat-trick. Hawick’s other tries were scored by Fraser Renwick and replacement Logan Gordon-Wooley, Brunton kicking four conversions.

Peebles58

Hillhead/JordanhilL10

Before this game started, the home crowd were hoping for the team returning to winning ways. For the first 20 minutes, however, it did not look like this was going to happen.

Indeed, at the end of that first period, home supporters considered themselves lucky to be in front after Greg Raeburn had kicked two penalties.

It was another 15 minutes before the home team really started to play open, running rugby. Raeburn and Ruaridh Clinch combined to take play into the visitors’ half and when Hillhead full back Gallacher was yellow-carded for preventing Scott McCormick taking a quick penalty, Peebles kicked to the corner. After several drives, Matty Carryer drove over for the try, which Raeburn converted.

Hillhead hit back with a penalty, but Peebles continued to run the ball, resulting in three more tries before half-time. Conor Blyth got two of his eventual three and Richard Harrison scored on half-time after good running by Jamie Menzies. Raeburn converted two, giving Peebles a 32-3 lead at half-time.

Carryer added his second after the restart and the same player was instrumental in setting up Blyth’s hat-trick score from 40m only a few minutes later.

The city men were not going to win from this point, but they were not lying down, and their stand-off Nic Jurisic scored a very good solo try. He added the conversion points from the touchline.

After 65 minutes, one of the Hillhead forwards was sent off with a straight red card for throwing a punch more in frustration than in anger, and before the end of the game Peebles added further touchdowns from Andrew Brown and Ruaridh Clinch.

Devyn Smith had a good run from his own half and was stopped just short of the line by the visitors’ full back and on full time it looked like Richard Harrison was going to score from his own half as he hacked on a loose ball when the Hillhead backs were all up in attack, but the referee’s whistle blew for full-time.

This was a game where Peebles only played for about 40 minutes of the 80. Those on the coaching side of things believe the score could and should have been bigger, but the majority of supporters would have accepted such a scoreline before the kick-off.

Coach Drew Moore said little after the game other than stating he was quietly content, while Gavin Kerr said that the result was fine and just what was needed.

Watsonians46

Kelso12

Kelso travelled back over Soutra with their tails firmly between their legs on Saturday, following a six-try to two rout at Myreside.

Two Richard Minto tries, one converted by Andrew Skeen, kept the first half barely alive for the Tweedsiders, who were in all kinds of trouble and trailed 34-12 at the break.

Things only got worse after the restart, with the Watsonians pack exerting a serious amount of pressure and their aggressive rucking making Kelso concede possession.

Aberdeen GSFP37

Jed-Forest12

A second-half collapse by Jed at Rubislaw allowed Aberdeen to take their first National League One win this term.

The visitors enjoyed the better of the first half, going into the break with a 12-10 lead, with Mathew Meek and Ross Combe scoring tries and Guido Danil converting the latter.

The second half was an entirely northern affair. The sin-binning of Jed forwards Graham Slorance and Graham Robinson did not help the Borderers’ cause, but the hosts completely dominated with 27 unanswered points.

wooler

At wooler Livestock Centre last Wednesday John Swan Ltd had forward and sold 1,663 lambs and 511 ewes and rams

Lambs similar to last week’s rates.

Leading prices per head:- Bel:- £86 Henlaw, £75, £68 (2) Ladykirk. Tex.x:- £82 Holy Island, £78.50 Lorbottle, £77 Edlingham Demesne and Lorbottle, £75.50 Mindrum, £75 Lilburn Estates, £74.50 Holy Island, £73.50 Greenhead, Reston, £72.50 Lorbottle and South Charlton, £72 Shipley Smallburn and Wandon. BFL:- £75 Clennell, £72 Edlingham Demesne, £71.50 Clennel. Suff.x:- £73.50 Chesterhill, £73 Lorbottle, £72.50 Castlelaw, £71 Lorbottle, £70.50 Chesterhill, £70 Lilburn Estates. Suf:- £72.50 Brockley Hall. Cha:- £68 Wandon. Chev:- £65.50 South Charlton, £64 Great Ryle. Mule:- £67 Great Ryle, £64.50 Ladykirk, £64 Great Ryle.

Leading prices per kilo:- Bel:- 215p Henlaw, 202.7p Ladykirk. Tex.x:- 189.2p Lilburn Estates, 175p Kettleburn and Yetlington Lane, 169.7p Ladykirk, 168.6p Lorbottle, 167.5p Kettleburn, 166.7p Lilburn Estates and Henlaw. Suff.x:- 163.4p Ladykirk, 157p West Longridge, 154.9p Shieldykes, 152.4p Bowmont Hill and Shipley Lane. Chev:- 157.5p Great Ryle, 155p Fawdon. Mule:- 153.7p Great Ryle, 151.2p Shieldykes.

Ewes in keeping with nationwide rates.

Leading prices:- Tex.x:- £100 Black Heddon, £96.50, £85.50 The Hagg, £85 Black Heddon, £81 Village Farm, £76 Brockley Hall. Suff.x:- £100, £84 Wandon, £82 Holy Island. Chev:- £73.50 South Charlton. CHM:- £75, £65 South Charlton. Mule:- £68 Castlelaw, £67 Lilburn Estates, £65 Holy Island, £63 South Charlton (M Hall). BFL:- £76 Clennell.

Rams:- BFL:- £108 Clennell. Tex.x:- £102 Reavley, £100.50 Shotton. Chev:- £90 Reavley.

St Boswells

At their special sale of Prime Ram Lambs John Swan Ltd sold 1,313 lambs to average 148.1p pkg (£58.39).

Tex.x;- £77, £76 Akeld Steads, Tex;- £75 Rawburn and Knock, Suff.x;- £76, £71 Threepwood, Mule;- £70 Akeld Steads, Chev;- £68.50 Whitehouse, £64.50 Gilston, CM;- £66 Buchtrig, Lleyn;- £66 Dolphinston, BF;- £64 Peel, £62 Stobbs.

At their weekly primestock sale on Wednesday John Swan Ltd sold 85 clean cattle, 76 OTM cattle, 1,620 new season lambs and 584 ewes.

Bullocks (32) averaged 218.5p per kg and sold to 246p (-0.4p on week), heifers (49) averaged 217p per kg and sold to 247p (-2.2p on week), four young bulls averaged 142.3p per kg sold to 150p (n/c on week) and 76 beef type OTM cattle averaged 129.5p per kg and sold to 195p (+1p on the week).

New season lambs averaged 153p per kg (+1p on the week) and sold to £90, top price 1.81p per kg for Beltex. Ewes averaged £53.66, and sold to £95 for Suffolk Heavy ewes averaged £59.62, Light ewes sold to £71 for Zwarbles and averaged £31.50.

Principal prices per head: Upper Nisbet £1499.40, £1497.60; Woodheads. A £1482.88, £1479.94.

Principal prices per kg: Bee Edge 2.47 M/s W.T.S. Forsyth and Sons, 2.40 (2) Shaws of Lauder and W. Taylor (Lockerbie), 2.38 Shaws of Lauder; Upper Nisbet 2.46 Malone of Edinburgh, 2.42 M/s W.T.S. Forsyth and Sons, 2.40 Denholm Meat Supplies, 2.38 M/s J.A. Waters and Sons; Snawdon 2.42 Malone of Edinburgh, 2.32 J.F. Finlay and Co Ltd; Honeyburn 2.39 M/s Moor; Longnewton 2.36 Shaws of Lauder; Thirlestane 2.36 M/s W.T.S. Forsyth and Sons; Upper Hundalee 2.32 M/s J. Gilmour and Co Ltd; Outerston 2.31 Charles Wilson Edinburgh; Traprain 2.30 M/s Moor.

Bulls: Ashcraig £1231.70 (1.09p); Laidlawstiel £1151.32 (1.07p); Chapelhill £1126.40 (1.10p).

Cows per head: Willowford £1226.10; Dalkeith Home Farm £1176, £1081.70; New Jeaniefield £1154.34; Bowshiel £1119.96, £1029.50; Corsbie £1112, £1066.80; Ormiston £1104.90; Gateshaw £1099; Muircleugh £1039.52; Minto Kames £1034.06; Todshawhaugh £1031.38.

Cows per kg: Greenknowe 1.95 (2), 1.89, 1.87, 1.77, 1.71; Willowford 1.83; Gateshaw 1.75, 1.53; Dunslaw 1.70; New Jeaniefield 1.59, 1.47; Bowshiel 1.53, 1.45; Minto Kames 1.49; Muircleuch 1.46.

Lambs per head: Tex;- £90 The Lee, £87, £84, Huntington, Suff.x;- £85, £84 Huntington, £82 The Lee, Bel;- £84 Craigsford, £80 Bow, £76 Lylestane, Char;- £66.50 Torview, £64 Edenbrook and Woodhouse, CM;- £66 Blegbie, Mule;- £65 Threeburnford, BF;- £60 Mailingsland.

Lambs per kg: Bel;- 1.81 Bow, 1.78, 1.76, 1.96 Lylestane, 1.68 Craigsford Mains, Tex;- 1.75 Calaburn, 1.74 Applecross, 1.71 Craigsford Mains, Suff.x;- 1.71 Huntington, 1.70 The Lee, 1.66 Avielochan, Char;- 1.60 Woodhouse and Eden Brook.

Ewes: Suff;- £93 Hyndsidehill, £88, £71 Spotsmains, £81 Headshaw. L, £75 Redheugh, Tex:- £81 Headshaw. L, £80 Redheugh, £73 Greenend & Magdalane Hall, CM;- £71 Blackhill, £69 Northfield St Abbs, Zwar;- £71 Torview, HB;- £70 Blegbie, Mule;- £68 Burnhouse Mains, £65 Corsbie and Northfield St Abbs, BF;- £51 Headshaw. L, Jac;- £61 Magdalane Hall, BL;- £63 Spotsmains.

Rams: Suff;- £95 Brotherstone, Tex;- £85 Redheugh, Lleyn:- £77 Brotherstone.

At their annual Aberdeen Angus Cross and feeding and breeding sheep Show and Sale John Swan Ltd sold 1,240 head of native bred suckled calves.

The show was expertly judged by Mr R. Lawson, Blackburn, awarding Champion to M/s Ross, Wester Middleton, for Aberdeen Angus cross bullock which made £1380 (290.5p).

The reserve was also awarded to Wester Middleton for a haltered Aberdeen Angus cross bullock which made £5000 (917.4p)

The T.W. Forrest Trophy was awarded to Easter Middleton for a pen of 11 Aberdeen Angus cross bullocks which made £1130.

At their fortnightly sale of Feeding and Breeding Sheep the company sold 2605 head. Store lambs, especially Cheviots met a very strong demand.

Longtown

The Cumberland and Dumfriesshire Farmers Mart plc had forward 31 prime cattle, two young bulls, 18 over 30 month cattle, 6,262 prime lambs and 5,342 cast ewes and rams at their weekly sale at Longtown last Thursday.

A mixed show of prime cattle with quality in short supply. Top price to 215.5p for a British Blue heifer shown by W. and W. Faulder, Houghton House.

Prime bulls sold sold to 156.5p and 148.5p for Black and White from Becton Hall.

A plain show of cast cows selling to similar rates. Top price to 145.5p for a Limousin cow from T.N. and F. Cowan and Son, The Ash.

A larger show of 6,262 prime lambs forward to an increased ring of buyers saw an overall average of 165p per kilo (SQQ 169p), dearer than most other centres this week, best export weight lambs short of requirements.

Top was £90 per head and 221p per kilo for Beltex from Wallend.

Another grand show of 5,342 cast ewes and rams was forward to our usual ring of buyers, with trade being £6-£8 up on the week for all classes in the build up to the festival.

Top price of £160 for a Suffolk ram from Kingfield.

There was a catalogue entry of 9,198 head, comprising 4,797 horned sheep and 4,401 Cheviot ewes, gimmers and ewe lambs for the Annual Border Ewe Sale. With the mild winter and good summer, all sheep looked brilliant. A similar quality entry of Cheviots forward for sale attracted buyers from all parts of the UK, as a result a very good trade prevailed with averages up substantially on the year by £10 to £20 per head, only the Hill Cheviot ewe lambs seemed harder to sell.

Edinburgh Accies19

Gala26

There was no let up for Gala supporters last weekend as once again the Maroons were made to fight to the bitter end to maintain their pole position in the Premiership.

A hat-trick of tries from full back Ruaridh Young plus two conversions by Alex Glashan moved Accies into a 19-11 lead with half an hour to play. But Gala squared matters, entering into the final 15 minutes – Ruairi Howarth slotting a penalty and hooker Callum Mackintosh bulldozing his way over for a try.

And visiting supporters were rewarded for their patience when Rex Jeffries bagged a converted try to hand Gala the win with 10 minutes remaining.

Gala’s earlier points came from a Luke Pettie try and two penalties from Howarth.

Hawick21

Melrose20

Hawick got their show back on the road after taking the honours against the defending BT Premiership champions Melrose in a fiercely competitive match at Mansfield Park.

What was remarkable about Hawick’s win was that it came on the back of a heavy defeat to Glasgow Hawks a week earlier in a tepid display by the Greens.

Hawick skipper Rory Hutton told us: “We dug deep to get the win today and after last week against Hawks it was a testament to the boys that we were able to bounce back.

“There was a big emphasis on getting the passion back into our game. Everyone was hurting after that big defeat. We were disappointed about not being fully there. When we get that passion back we’re hard to beat.

“If we match up to teams both physically and mentally, we’ve got the players who can play rugby. We know ourselves that the performance wasn’t totally there today, but if we can give ourselves the chance in games, we’ve got the guys who can take it.”

With Hutton and his opposite number at stand-off, Austin Lockington, two fly halves who prefer an open style of rugby, the game was guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser.

In the event, spectators at Mansfield Park were certainly not short-changed for excitement. For this was a match that went to the wire. It was a match, too, which confirmed the BT Premiership as a quality product.

In the end, Hawick scraped through by a single point, but overall they were worth their win after showing massive commitment in defence, smart off-the-cuff attacking rugby, and an ability to snap up chances.

Hawick’s forwards, and particularly, their back row, deserve plaudits, while behind the scrum there were exciting performances from full back Lee Armstrong, winger Scott McLeod and scrum half Shaun Goodfellow.

So what went wrong for Melrose, who, after all, finished the match 3-2 ahead in the try count?

The answer quite simply was goal kicking. Whereas Armstrong kicked three penalty goals and one conversion, Lockington could muster only one conversion and one penalty goal.

Melrose took a gamble on leaving out Richard Mill from their starting XV, preferring the attacking skills of Lockington for the 10 position. As a result, Mill had to watch a number of failed goal kicks from the bench until he was brought on for the last one.

Melrose also came off second best in the battle of the back rows, the champions clearly missing the poaching skills of Grant Runciman, currently enjoying playing rugby in New Zealand.

Even so, Melrose had enough power in the scrum to win the game and were perhaps disappointed to not be awarded a penalty try when they had Hawick under intense pressure near the try line. Behind the scrum, Melrose looked sharp at times with good breaks from scrum half Murdo McAndrew and Lockingto,n but all too often uncharacteristic handling errors proved costly. Two penalties by Armstrong to one by Lockington gave Hawick a 6-3 advantage after 22 minutes, but on the stroke of half time Hawick made their breakthrough with a try by winger Scott McLeod from good approach work and a clever chip ahead by Armstrong.

An Armstong penalty kept Hawick’s scoreboard ticking over, but tries by Graham Dodds and McQuillan and a conversion by Lockington put Melrose ahead by 15-14 only for the Greens to regain the lead with a touchdown by centre Joaquin Dominguez, converted by Armstrong.

Then in a frantic finale, Melrose scored through Tito Mua, but to the relief of the Mansfield Park faithful, Mill’s touchline conversion attempt drifted wide, leaving Hawick winners.

Hawick Quins18

Hawick Linden32

Hawick Linden gained a bonus point win at Wilton Lodge Park, a venue where they have often come unstuck against local rivals Quins in the past.

The home side were straight on the scoreboard with an Adam Hall penalty kick in the second minute, while Kirk Ford levelled the scores in similar fashion following hands in the ruck.

The first try came after a thumping hit by Greg Thomson when chasing a high kick. This set the platform for the Linden to camp on the Quins line and the forwards eventually surged their way over, with the biggest surprise being winger Sean Potts emerging from the pile of bodies to claim the touchdown.

Potts then showed his pace on the outside, racing into the 22 before feeding to the supporting Conor Gracie, who sold a glorious dummy to storm under the posts. Ford converted both tries.

Graham Colville scored the easiest of tries when he picked up from a penalty scrum to stroll over and with Ford‘s conversion, Linden looked in command at 24-3 with only 28 minutes played.

With the Royal Blues seeming to think the hard work was done, Quins took control of possession, and regular offences from Linden ultimately ended with Hall slotting his second penalty.

Just before the break, a clearance kick was charged down and the hosts shipped the ball wide for Hall to benefit from the overlap and race over, closing the gap to 11-24.

Linden missed a couple of penalty kicks early in the second period, so took to running a number of similar awards, which eventually paid off when Kirk Ford shot through a gap to touch down.

The Quins were rewarded for a period of pressure when Dale Johnstone powered to the line and stretched out to score, with Hall converting, but Linden had the final word when Ford put over his second penalty kick to complete a personal haul of 17 points.

Stirling Cty Ladies22

Melrose Ladies34

Melrose Ladies visited Bridgehaugh in confident mood, but they were met by a determined and skilful Stirling County Ladies side.

The hosts were first on the scoresheet when they secured a good try following excellent handling. But it did not take long for the visitors to respond and although never behind, it took until the final 10 minutes of the match before the result was put beyond doubt.

Special mention goes to the Melrose pack, who were outstanding in the scrums with Megan McIver and Lana Skeldon both in great form.

Cliché it may be, but a win’s a win and with six tries to four, Melrose thoroughly deserved the victory. This moves the Borderers to second place in the BT Women’s Premier League, with RHC to play at the Greenyards this weekend – all support very welcome.

LangholM11

Linlithgow13

Langholm were a bit unfortunate not to secure what would have been a valuable win at Milntown last Saturday when they lost out to a penalty goal in injury time, writes John Smith.

Having been deducted two points for failing to get a team together a few weeks ago for the away trip to Berwick, the Milntown men are now in the relegation zone on five points. Linlithgow are in fourth with 19 points, yet Langholm were every bit as good as the visitors until the last penalty.

Langholm again struggled for numbers and only had a squad of 16, while No8 Eddie Turner had a back injury, which ultimately saw him retire.

Much of the play was confined to the forwards as the packs battled for ascendancy and the ball was only occasionally fed along the line.

With 19 minutes played, home fly half Nathan Smith was on target with a penalty goal before Ross Martin kicked a similar effort for Linlithgow. With 34 minutes on the clock, Smith kicked another fine penalty to put Langholm in front 6-3 at half-time.

Five minutes into the second period, the Milntown forwards piled pressure on the visitors’ line, with Craig Hislop hassling the opposition scrum half, who lost possession, allowing Langholm flanker Scott Howatson to gather, stretch over and score. Within three minutes, Linlithgow had swept upfield and centre Mark Green broke through the defence for a try which Martin converted to make it 11-10.

Two minutes into injury time, a penalty went against Langholm for handling in a ruck inside their 22 and, much to the delight of the visiting support, Martin slotted between the posts for the winner and Langholm had to be content with a losing bonus point.

A veritable feast of rugby awaits local supporters this weekend with no less than six from seven Premiership and National League games being played on home soil.

All three of the region’s top flight teams are in action locally, and all have their individual agendas.

Gala remain top of the Premiership table, but are locked in a three-way battle with Heriot’s and Ayr – each have five wins to their credit and 24 points apiece.

Despite another bonus-point victory last week, Maroons coach George Graham is still waiting on his team to get out of second gear.

“Of course, being top is a good situation to be in, but we are not playing anywhere near as well as we can do,” he said.

“We’re still winning, though, so I will have to be happy with that.”

Melrose could make a difference to those standings this weekend when they take on Heriot’s at the Greenyards. John Dalziel’s men have a score to settle after being beaten 28-36 by the Goldenacre gang in the Scottish Rugby Charity Shield match earlier in the season, and will be keen to bounce back from their narrow, but painful, defeat against Hawick last week.

Melrose stand-off Richard Mill admitted after the game that the team’s performance was unacceptable and said that they would have to address the problems before the Heriot’s clash.

“Individual errors are not acceptable,” he stated.

“We have to up our game everywhere on the field and start connecting. That is something we will be working on this week.”

Having taken their first home win of the season last week, Hawick are looking forward to another on Saturday by seeing off Stirling County at Mansfield Park.

Captain Rory Hutton said: “We need to be consistent in making Mansfield Park somewhere that is difficult for visiting teams to get a win.”

In the National League, Selkirk will be trying to regain their top spot when Aberdeen come to Philiphaugh, while Kelso and Jed-Forest will be looking to get back onto the winning trail when facing Stewart’s Melville FP and GHA at Poynder Park and Riverside respectively.

Peebles are the only Borders team on the road early as they travel to Troon to play Marr.

Vale of Leithen take on Edinburgh University away from home this week in a Lowland League encounter, writes John Slorance.

Vale are looking to get more points on board to improve their lowly position and manager Mark Lamb told The Southern: “We are a young team competing in a very competitive league, and it’s going to be a long, hard season for our players.

“It’s our aim to remain in the Lowland League and I have set us a target of 25 points. So far we have picked up 13 points and I am quite happy about this considering we have such a small squad.”

Gala Fairydean face Gretna 2008 at Netherdale without the suspended Jamie Gibson.

Selkirk were scheduled to play East Kilbride, however the K-Park outfit are lining up against Spartans at home in a Scottish Cup second round replay following a drawn game last Saturday, leaving the Souters gameless for the second weekend on the bounce.

Peebles Rovers are set to square up against Heriot-Watt University in an East of Scotland First Division battle, Kelso United travel to Duns, while Hawick Royal Albert visit Ormiston.

Visit www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk for more.

A group of 21 Scandinavian visitors from the Norwegian fashion chain VOLT have enjoyed a successful tour of the Borders.

In 2012, 15 employees won a trip to the region after winning a company competition based on sales of Lyle and Scott knitwear.

VOLT was so impressed by that trip, where the staff learnt about the Borders’ textile history, that they decided to organise another competition to mark the company’s 140th anniversary.

“Part of the goal for the visit was for them to get to know the Borders, and maybe be charmed by the way of life and the scenery,” explained Morten Erichsen, owner of SMD Holding AS, exclusive importers of Lyle and Scott products to Norway.

He added that the company also felt it important that the employees feel connected to the heritage of the products they sell.

To make the most of the three-day trip to the region, the company enlisted the help of Ian Walker of Border Journeys Tour Company.

Mr Walker said: “I had the same group two years ago – they were actually my very first group - so I wanted to make sure that they enjoyed themselves just as much this time.”

To this end, he created an itinerary that highlighted some of the best that the Borders has to offer.

Unmissable, of course, was a tour of the Lyle and Scott mill at Hawick, which was followed by fly-fishing, archery and clay pigeon shooting.

The group also took part in a mini Highland Games competition, and enjoyed a trip to the Born in the Borders visitor centre.

The group stayed at Dryburgh Abbey Hotel, and general manager Mark Wallace said the region’s textile heritage is a real draw for visitors.

“We’ve noticed a real increase in foreign visitors to the Borders – drawn especially by our textiles, but also by a whole number of activities.

“The Borders has so much to offer the corporate guest,” he added.

Mr Walker said that the group was delighted by their stay in the region, and is hopeful that a third visit to the Borders will happen in due course.

Any company needs attention if it is to flourish, but many owners fail to plan adequately, and seek help only once it’s too late.

There are very simple steps you can take to maximise your chances of growth and reap the benefits of a healthy business.

Planning: Be sure to make a plan and refer to it regularly and adapt to new circumstances.

With new information and a constantly-changing economic environment, you may have to significantly change your plans.

Set up efficient processes for all staff to follow, to help maximise your time. Scheduling your week in advance and keeping your diary close by will help you stay on top of things.

Know your trade: Don’t overstretch yourself trying to be all things to all people. Focus on your core skills or products, aiming for quality where you know you can deliver. Branching out can only happen with a stem strong enough to support it.

Look after your customers : Customer service is the base of a healthy business, and employees who also understand this will help you succeed. Never forget that the best advert for your business is a happy customer.

Strive to improve: Growth is a process of change, and no business begins fully-formed.

Expect to make mistakes and learn from them – improving quality and making the next stage of your development better than the last.

Stay relevant with new computer programs, innovations and processes and embrace digital means, such as online advertising and social media.

Call 01573 224391 or email gill.adamson@renniewelch.co.uk to discuss your business strategy.

Hawick-based Borders Green Team has been recognised as having a first-class business model by Firstport.

The social enterprise start-up agency has now included the local scheme in its ‘Ditto’ bank of business ideas to help aspiring social entrepreneurs get started.

The Borders Green Team provides employment and training for adults with learning difficulties.

After the driest September on record, October arrived with a splash. The weekend began with almost two days of incessant rain, which brought the rivers into full spate for the first time in months.

The salmon fishers will be relieved as it will allow the upstream passage of countless fish, which have been stranded in pools near the estuary, waiting for their chance to migrate upriver to spawn.

I had a walk up to the cauld at Selkirk, near where I live, on Saturday, but the river was far too high and powerful to see any fish jumping. This will be the first real test for the recently completed rebuilding of the weir and fish ladder, so it will be interesting to see how the fish take to it.

Just above the new Archimedes screws, which were installed to generate electricity by harnessing the drop in water levels between the top of the cauld and the bottom, sat a dipper on the steel pilings (pictured).

The Ettrick was too powerful for the screws to be switched on and the dipper, too, seemed at a loss as to how it was going to get its next meal in the raging brown waters.

A trio of goosanders seemed to know how to get the most out of the situation.

They were “white water rafting”, bobbing like corks down the fastest bit of the current in midstream, heading for Selkirk at a rate of knots.

I mentioned previously that I installed a small pond in my garden earlier in the year and that I was amazed at how soon aquatic creatures began to appear, with no help from me.

Already I have had things like water boatmen, several species of water beetle and pond snails, but the best thing of all turned up one evening last week.

When I let Treacle the dog out for her final airing of the day, I usually shine a torch into the pond to check on the toad which seems to be languishing in the same corner on a nightly basis.

Just below it, I noticed in a deeper section, something a bit like a curled leaf, with legs.

I gently touched it with a cane and immediately it swam for cover into the depths. It was my first newt! It is very difficult to try and establish things like that artificially, as the conditions have to be perfect, so I was highly delighted to have it confirmed that I must be doing something right in my efforts to encourage new wildlife into my garden.

Army photographer Jamie Peters of Jedburgh has beat off stiff competition to win a coveted title in a nationwide military photographic competition.

Corporal Peters, an army photographer with the Royal Logistic Corps (RLC), has won Best Overall Image, as voted for by the public on Facebook in this year’s Army Photographic Competition.

His winning shot of an Apache helicopter flying over a large explosion, taken during an air show – Fireball Flyers – topped the public poll with 1,671 likes, narrowly beating sniper image, Armed and Dangerous, by Steve Dock, of Soldier Magazine, with 1,595.

Jamie, who has been in the photographic branch for four years, was delighted to win the new online category, saying: “I was pretty happy when I found out I’d won.

“It’s a good feeling that lots of people enjoyed my image more than the other ones.

“I was checking regularly,” said 35-year-old Jamie, who is currently based at the army’s headquarters in Andover. “From the beginning my image and one other were getting more likes. It was a closely-fought battle between the two.”

Jamie, who currently lives in Buckinghamshire with wife Vicky, said: “The photo was taken at the Royal International Air Show at RAF Fairford. I spoke to the Apache Display Team guy and got the timetable of events for that weekend.

“On the Sunday, I was up in the grandstand with about 400 other aviation enthusiasts, I suppose you’d call them, all with huge long lenses snapping away.

“It all came together and the pilot was in the right position and I got the image I envisaged beforehand. I knew it was unusual because you don’t really see an Apache with a big explosion behind it.

“Normally, when they’re firing at things they’re hundreds of feet up in the air. So, it was quite unique. And explosions always look good with military equipment. That’s what everyone thinks the army does – blows stuff up and shoots stuff.”

Entries, including best portrait, best soldiering image and video and multimedia, were judged by Jane Sherwood, picture editor on the Sunday Express; Jon Mills of SWNS Picture Agency and Brigadier Nick Orr of the Army Media and Communication (AMC) branch.

The Lord Lieutenant of Roxburgh, Ettrick & Lauderdale, Captain Gerald Maitland Carew, visited Galashiels Air Cadets recently to appoint his Lord Lieutenant Cadet for 2014-2015.

Cadet Flight Sergeant Aaron Kerr, 17, from Melrose, received his certificate and badges from the Lord Lieutenant.

Each year, the Lord-Lieutenant appoints a Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet who accompanies him on ceremonial duties throughout the year.

When on duty, Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets wear a distinctive badge of their appointment to denote their role and assist the Lord-Lieutenant as required – often on parade for Royal visits – and act as ambassadors for their organisations.