President’s welcome
I am delighted to extend a warm welcome to everyone who has successfully navigated the flood works to get to Mansfield Park this afternoon and in particular to Souters who have come over Groundistone Heights.
Our visitor’s President Ex-Royal Burgh Standard Bearer President David Anderson is the nephew of George Anderson who taught P.E.to many Hawick supporters of a certain vintage. There are many stories about “Shorty”. He once sent a boy for twenty Senior Service tipped saying “If you can’t get that, anything else will do.” And the boy came back with two pies and a bridie! – allegedly!
“Auld Selkirk toun’s a bonnie toun
The favoured Forest Queen
The ancient haunt of royalty
What splendour has been seen…..
Haud up your heads, my gallant lads
Ye’ve come frae naething sma’
As ye gang up the New Road
And doon the Back Raw”
So goes “Auld Selkirk Toun”, one of our Souter friends’ most loved Common Riding songs and our opponents for today’s Border derby, the men from Philiphaugh have certainly held up their heads in rugby since the Club was founded in 1907, none more so than in season 1952/53 when under their Captain George Downie they won the Scottish unofficial championship. Jim “Basher” Inglis was a stalwart member of that side and his wife the redoubtable Mary, the uncrowned Queen of Philiphaugh, one of the best-kent faces on the Border rugby scene, will no doubt be here this afternoon. Since then John Rutherford, Gordon Hunter, Iain Paxton, Iwan Tukalo, Graham Marshall and Lee Jones have kept Selkirk’s name at the forefront of Scottish rugby.
Our boys did really well last week to earn a 14-14 draw with Tynedale at Corbridge – a great performance. Hawick also managed somehow to fulfil our commitment to send a team to Gala 7s. Huge credit to Team Manager Greg McLeod and Past-President Rory Bannerman for coming off the bench, the latter at the ripe old age of 58! Rory would die for Hawick RFC and given the tackling of the Southsea Islanders he nearly did!
I am sure we are in for a great game this afternoon played in true Border spirit. I am looking forward to it as I am sure you are too.
Ian W Landles, President RFC
The Club will be holding its first hospitality lunch of the season before the Musselburgh game on Saturday 10 September. Details will be on the Club website Facebook page soon. Contact Eileen Davies on 07703575825 to book your place. We look forward to seeing many of you there
