Super Eagles are left gutted

Feb 27 2009 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

Perthshire 30

Selkirk 34

ANY team which scores four tries against the second best team in the country should come away with something.

But the Eagles were left with nothing but pride and bitter disappointment.

The North Inch reverberated with 600 supporters, accompanied by Perth Pipe Band and the highly-motivated Eagles responded with a fine display.

Within five minutes of the start they had gone into a seven-point lead thanks to the mercurial James Fleming.

Minutes later, Selkirk almost scored and only a superb covering tackle from Simon Moffat prevented this but Scott Hendrie converted two penalties to bring them within touching distance.

Shire lost Stevie Knox with a yellow card and on the stroke of half-time Jason Hendrie managed to squeeze in at the corner and Selkirk had a lead.

Whenever Selkirk mounted an attack, they were felled like trees with thundering tackles. Shire went straight back into the attack in the second-half and the scrum, which was so shaky at the beginning of the season, was now rock solid.

Selkirk resorted to some skulduggery to stop Shire's pack from winning the ball and as a result conceded a penalty and lost a player when he was yellow carded.

Fleming stroked the ball between the posts and Shire were back in the game.

Shire mounted attack after attack and Selkirk were on the rack as Shire mounted more attacks and it was the flying Flembo again who put Shire back in the lead squeezing over at the corner.

However, a disastrous 10-minute spell followed as Selkirk were awarded three penalties which Hendrie converted.

It wasn't long before Shire's backs were set free again and the ubiquitous Fleming shook off several tackles and delivered another classic score.

Ross Browne struck the conversion beautifully.

Selkirk's Harkness pounced on a loose ball in his own half and raced to the line to get their noses in front but Ross Browne converted another penalty in reply and Shire were only two points behind when Hendrie broke clear and he made no mistakes as he sped towards the line.

Craig Wallace, the dynamic young prop, crashed over for Shire in the final minutes but there was no more time for a fairy tale ending.

Jimmy Whyte and Garry Coull were inspirational and Ross Browne played his best game yet for Shire.

Captain Matt Smith summed up their thoughts: “I’m gutted at this result. We controlled large parts of the game and didn't allow Selkirk to settle.

“We outscored them on tries yet we are leaving with nothing but our pride intact.”

kkk James Fleming, sponsored by The Kilted Hairdresser.

kk Garry Coull, sponsored by Meldrum Construction.

k Simon Moffat, sponsored by AGB Developments.