A warm Teri welcome this afternoon to Selkirk President David Anderson, Vice President Graham Marshall, Duchess Basher of Philiphaugh and all our other Souter friends. Selkirk are not only one of our closest Clubs in geographical proximity but also in rugby friendship.
We all remember how they gave us a very close game in last season’s opening fixture. We were disappointed with the drawn result little realising it would be the only game we wouldn’t win all season and the men from Philiphaugh were able to later boast that they were the team who came closest to beating our double winning side.
Every now and then unexpected visitors turn up at Mansfield Park. A week past Tuesday an Australian couple on a tour of Europe came to see Mansfield Park where the husband’s father Ian Bett had played rugby in the same Hawick team as Bill McLaren. By an amazing coincidence they arrived in time to enjoy Allan McCredie’s grand selection of videos about “the Voice of Rugby” which he was presenting to the Rugby Memories meeting that very afternoon. The couple couldn’t believe their luck and left with merchandise from the Club shop. It must have just been meant to be. Another Aussie who will be remembered by older supporters Rob Blyth who played for the Club in the early 1990s was also back in Hawick that week and Aaron Green, another Australian, who played stand off for the YM and Hawick around twenty years ago was at the Heriot’s game where he was able to meet up with former team-mates Roddy Deans and Greg McLeod.
All at Mansfield are delighted that Rory Sutherland has signed to play for Oyonnaux in the French Top 14 for the rest of this season. The town is not much bigger than Hawick and lies in the foothills of the Jura Mountains. We wish Rory and his family well for the next stage of his rugby journey.
For supporters travelling to Glasgow next Saturday Glasgow Hawks have advised us that they are hosting a lunch at Balgray at 12.30 where former Selkirk player and Scottish internationalist Lee Jones will be doing a Q and A. The cost is £25 for the lunch and entry to the game. You can book by e-mailing
ronagibson@glasgowhawks.com Please note that the kick-off is at 2.00pm.
The next meeting of the Rugby Memories group will be at 2.00 pm on Tuesday 7 November when Greens legend Terence Froud will be sharing some of his many colourful experiences.
November is a big month for the Club’s 150th commemoration. The launch of the eagerly awaited “Voices of Hawick Rugby” book will be held in the Clubrooms on Wednesday 8 November at 7.00. Everybody is welcome to this event. Come and get a copy of the book which is priced at £25. Cash is the preferred method of payment on the night. Next before what will be a crucial game against Marr at 12.30 on the very appropriate date of Saturday 11 November a ceremony will be held to unveil a bench, the work of skilled Hawick craftsman Bernie Armstrong, in memory of all the Hawick RFC players and members who laid down their lives in the service of their country and never returned to Mansfield Park. A group from Bailleul, here for Remembrance weekend, will be at the unveiling. Walk in lunches will be available that day. Then of course Friday 17 November is the Celebratory Dinner night. An exciting few weeks lie ahead.
Back to today. Our opponents are maybe a wee bit disappointed with their start to this campaign and with their current League position but Matty and the boys will be taking nothing for granted and I’m sure we are going to be treated to another close Border derby.
