Selkirk bounce back from derby defeat with 29-19 win away to Musselburgh in rugby’s Scottish Premiership

Selkirk players celebrating winning the Bill McLaren Shield for the first time in its 12-year history by beating Musselburgh 29-19 away in rugby's Scottish Premiership on Saturday (Photo: John Durham)

“The one good point was that the boys were all so disappointed the week before,” said Henderson, nicknamed Sesh. “If they hadn’t been disappointed, I’d have been disappointed.

“We wanted a reaction to that last game by putting a performance in and that’s what we got.

“We got the performance we wanted – we scored some really good attacking tries and our attack worked really well, underpinned by solid defence because we were under the cosh at times.

Luke Pettie on the ball for Selkirk during their 29-19 away win at Musselburgh in rugby's Scottish Premiership on Saturday (Photo: John Durham)

“I think overall the players got back to the level they should be playing at week in, week out.

“It was a really good 80-minute shift from all 20 of our players.”

Saturday’s win made amends not only for the Souters’ loss to Kelso the weekend before but also for their 24-21 defeat at home to Musselburgh at the end of September, according to Henderson.

“That was a game where one pass could have got us five points but we ended up getting beat, so it was a bit of payback, just like Kelso’s win was payback for us stealing our previous game against them by 21-19 in October, I guess,” he said.

Musselburgh getting a tackle in during their 29-19 loss at home to Selkirk in rugby's Scottish Premiership on Saturday (Photo: John Durham)

“Saturday’s result was a good five points for us.”

The Borderers’ try-scorers in East Lothian were Finlay Wheelans at the double, Ben Pickles, Callum Anderson and Bruce Riddell, with Hugo Alderson adding two conversions.

Michael Maltman, Sandy Watt and Michael Badenhorst touched down for their hosts, with Matthew McMillan and Danny Owenson adding a conversion apiece.

Selkirk remain eighth in rugby’s Scottish Premiership table, with 30 points from 15 fixtures, ahead of a trip to Heriot’s Blues on Saturday, January 20, with kick-off at 2pm, an excursion offering another chance to make amends, the Souters having lost the reverse fixture at Philiphaugh in October by 26-13.

They’ve got a Border League fi xture at home to Peebles in between, on Saturday, January 6, at 3pm.

Saturday’s victory also brought the Bill McLaren Shield back to the Borders after Hawick lost it to Marr in September, with the Troon outfit subsequently having it taken off them by Musselburgh at the end of October.

It’s the first time the Souters have won the shield since its launch back in 2011.