Appetising Borders derby battle in prospect

The Souters defeated Hawick 28-17 in the Bookers Border League last Thursday and are “pepped up” for the trip to Jed-Forest, according to manager Tom Ramage.

Selkirk reckoned they were capable of beating Jed in their own back yard and should be at full strength, he said.

They were “raring to go” but they knew the Riversiders would be well up for the challenge.

A local derby would be a good note on which to return to competitive action, agreed Ramage, adding: “If you can’t get up for a Borders league game, you shouldn’t be playing rugby, to be honest.”

Of the Hawick game, he said: “We rested one or two experienced players and brought a couple of young ones in, and the young ones never let us down. It’s good to have them in the background.”

Jed had been on a “rough trot”, having lost their last three games, and head coach Jammy McFarlane said it was disappointing to be out of play-off contention.

“Selkirk will come to Riverside but they’ll not give us any sympathy,” he added. “They’ll see it as an opportunity to inflict further pain against us.”

He added: “But we have regrouped and trained well in the last couple of weeks. We just need to get back on the bike, so to speak.”

“They are always good games with Selkirk,” he continued. “There is plenty of local pride and bragging rights at stake, so both sides will be well motivated – that’s for sure.”