Leading the team out prior to kick off was Duncan Nicolson who was handed the Captain’s armband for the day to celebrate his final game in Broughton colours, bringing 18 unrivalled years in the pack to an end.

Duncan played a pivotal part in engineering a win against a Walkerburn side who took to the field like a Borders BaaBaas outfit due to a ‘wardrobe malfunction’ at Caberston Haugh resulting in a lack of team kit making the trip to the Capital.

Walkerburn had the best of the opening opportunities as they attacked down the slope in the first half and they were awarded a penalty inside the Broughton 22 after seven minutes, however the kick hit the upright and Colin Etchells collected and hoofed to safety.

On the quarter hour mark, it was Broughton who got the first points on the board. A strong forwards rumble up the hill gained significant ground before Robbie Brown came agonisingly close.
The ball was recycled and a cheeky dummy pass from Colin Etchells saw the full back dive over for the score. 5-0

Walkerburn’s kicker made amends after 30 minutes when he managed to split the uprights from bang in front to narrow the gap to 5-3.

Two tries in six minutes at the end of the first half however changed the direction of the game and it was Broughton who scored them both.

A rampaging run by the Kilted Kiwi Sandy Urquhart through the heart of the Walkerburn defence allowed Nick Keenan to score close enough to the posts to ensure Stuart Somervail’s kick was a simple one.

Then, on the stroke of half-time, Luke Watson opened up play in midfield with a searching pass to Keenan. The ball made its way out to Somervail who was stopped in his tracks with the try-line two metres away. Marius Breidenhann was first up in support and the pass into the bread basket allowed the No.10 to put his side 17-3 up at the break.

HT: Broughton 17-3 Walkerburn

It didn’t take long before a bonus point was secured and within two minutes of the second half, it took an audacious inside flick by Aaron Laurenson to set up Robbie Brown for the dynamic young centre to race in unopposed under the posts. Somervail once again adding the extras to take it to 24-3.

A mild moment of controversy in the 49th minute when Gareth Henderson was awarded a try after the gargantuan second rower reached out towards the whitewash after taking on a wall of Walkerburn defenders. The Referee raised his arm to award the score despite remonstrations from the visitors to the contrary. Somervail slotted his finest kick of the day to extend the lead to 31-3.

A five minute flurry from Walkerburn saw the Borders side grab a penalty then a well worked try to peg the score back to 31-11 however it was Broughton who were to have the final say on the scoring.

Robbie Brown came close to adding to his tally but he couldn’t ground the ball after being tackled a metre from the line however with the game entering its final stages, Andy Cox raced in from 22 metres out bring the try count to six. Somervail’s trusty boot notched up and conversion to make it 38-11.

Final Score: Broughton 38-11 Walkerburn