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Oct 31st
Melrose ran in six tries at the Greenyards against their Edinburgh rivals Boroughmuir to win 35-13 and continued their pressure on Ayr and Currie at the top end of the Premier 1 table. John Dalziel scored a brace with Callum Anderson, James King, Richard Higgins and Craig Jackson crossing the line for the others. Bruce Dick kicked one conversion while Jackson scored a penalty goal.


 Melrose brought Boroughmuir down to their knees today at The Greenyards!
 Picture: Rob Gray, DigitalPic

Selkirk got their second home win of the season at Philiphaugh against Heriot's and did it with a bonus point win by 30-12. Michael Rutherford went over for a spectacular solo try early on with Rory Aglen, Ross Armstrong and Scott Hendrie getting the others. David Cassidy kicked two penalties and two conversions.


 Mike Rutherford on his way to a spectacular try for Selkirk today
 Picture: Grant Kinghorn, Grant Kinghorn Pics

In Premier 2 Hawick won the Border derby at Peebles 21-12. John Coutts returned to the Hawick team and immediately put his side in front with a well worked try. David Anderson got on the board for Peebles with one of his own before Neil Renwick put Hawick ahead 8-5 at the break with a penalty. Renwick was stretchered off with what looked like a shoulder injury. Peebles went into the lead with an Alan Smellie try converted by Donald Anderson, but the Greens came back with a Bruce McNeill converted try by Craig Neish, who kicked two penalties to win the match for Hawick who go second in the table. An interested spectator was former Hawick player Graham Hogg who recently left Heriot's. Could he be on his way back to Hawick in the near future? Both Graham and Hawick were non committal but Hawick secretary John Thorburn said that the club would be delighted if he did return. Watch this space!


 Craig Charters looks for support against Peebles
 Picture: Kenneth Baillie, Hawick RFC

Gala won 16-14 at GHA with a try from Graeme Bryce and a conversion and three penalties by Graham Speirs while Kelso racked up their second win of the season at home to Dunfermline with a 5 try haul. Kevin Utterson scored 21 points with two tries, four conversions and a penalty. Ian Moody, Michael Murphy and Mee Kaa Eeel Hartley scored the other tries.

Jedforest lost at home to Kirkcaldy to put them dangerously close to the relegation zone. They're now just one point ahead of Kelso in 10th place after throwing away a lead. Their only try came from Ali Hall. Ewan Scott bagged a conversion and three penalties.

In National League 1 Berwick were close to causing an upset at Ellon but let three soft tries be scored against them at the end as they went down 46-17. Colin Young scored two tries with Matthew McCreath converting both and kicking a penalty. Langholm lost at home to Murrayfield Wanderers 22-15 but salvaged a losing bonus point. They scored three tries for the second week running with Keith Davidson getting two and Gavin Campbell the other.

Hawick YM beat Preston Lodge 41-6 in Division 2 scoring six tries from Shaun Desport, Glyn Davies, Graeme Renwick, Ryan Hogg, Jamie Tinlin and Gregor Welsh who was also successful with four conversions and a penalty to go over 100 points for the season. Hawick Linden lost in their Division 3 match against Trinity Accies at Bangholm 55-3.

Into East League 1 and Duns beat Hawick Harlequins in the local derby 19-17 while Earlston edged out Dunbar 14-8 at The Haugh.

Gala YM's good season continued with another victory - this time 16-12 over Moray House at Netherdale, while Walkerburn lost 45-14 at home to Dalkeith and St Boswells lost heavily at Jenny Moores Ground 59-13.

Oct 30th
The worthwhile "Winning Mentors" programme which successfully launched last year is set to be even more successful this season. The idea of teaming up successful internationalists from the past with an upcoming star of the future comes from "Winning Scotland Foundation" and "Scottish Rugby".  John Jeffrey, the Kelso and Scotland flanker, has been added into the mix of impressive ex players and he will be mentoring former Kelso player Scott Newlands. Gala coach and former Scotland international George Graham will be mentoring Lewis Niven while Gala fly half Gregor Hunter, who has already been rewarded with Scottish age group caps, will be looked after by Scottish No.10 Phil Godman. Other well known Borders stars from the past include Jim Renwick, Colin Deans, Roy Laidlaw, John Rutherford, Roger Baird and Tony Stanger.


 John Jeffrey and Jim Renwick are among the mentors
while Gregor Hunter of Gala (centre) will be looked after by Phil Godman

Oct 28th
Former Jedforest scrum half and Scotland 7s player Greig Laidlaw has been given a huge boost to his career by being chosen AHEAD of Scotland captain Mike Blair for this Sunday's Magners League game for Edinburgh against Newport Gwent Dragons at Murrayfield.  Bill Lothian reporting in The Scotsman has confirmed from Edinburgh that Greig was chosen in preference to Mike Blair at number 9 rather than resting Blair for the upcoming autumn tests. It points to Chris Cusiter being the preferred choice for Scotland at scrum half for the autumn tests and the real possibility of a new Scottish skipper also. Meanwhile it is all good news for Laidlaw, nephew of Scottish legend Roy, who has stuck with Edinburgh rather than go elsewhere to maybe get more first team rugby, and he is now on the brink of challenging for a full national cap.


 Greig Laidlaw playing for Scotland's 7s team at the Melrose 7s in 2008
 Picture: Rob Gray, DigitalPic

Oct 26th
Melrose coach Craig Chalmers is favourite to be announced as Head Coach of the resurrected South of Scotland team which is likely to play at least one game this season in the Borders. As soon as the games are announced we will bring the news to you and the venue, with speculation that Mansfield Park is the front runner. A Wednesday night is also favourite for the local game but the red and white jersey will certainly be used again for the first time since 1995.

A special TV feature on the South of Scotland will be included in the November edition of Borders Rugby Roundup which goes online on November 1st.

Border League secretary John Thorburn is keen to get everything in place before making the announcement. He told BRTV: "We can't announce the coach until we actually have a team to play." Understandably there is a lot of speculation and excitement about the South and who would be put in place to look after the team as far as coaching is concerned. Gary Parker, who was instrumental in calling for the South to return is going to be coaching the Scottish Women's team this season so looks to be out of the running.

Craig Chalmers told the Border Telegraph's Atholl Innes that he has been approached about the position. he said: "To get the South back interests me. It would be great to have the team back again and see what crowds would come along. I'm all for having a 10 team Premier 1 which would make space for the return of the District Championship around December." Chalmers played for the South of Scotland back in the 1980s and said it was a special time for him and Rugby in the Borders.

 
Craig Chalmers likely to add South coach to his already impressive CV,
while Gary Parker will coach the Scottish Ladies.

Oct 25th
Selkirk coach Kevin Barrie has won the Coach of the Year award for last season and was presented with his award at the Ettrick & Lauderdale Sports Council Annual Awards Ceremony. The award was presented to Kevin by Mike Gray MBE. For the last two seasons Selkirk won promotion to Premier 1 then ended their season in a very creditable fifth place using mainly local talent, something that the club are very proud of.