GHA V Melrose 30/8/25
GHA v Melrose – 30/8/25
The players, for this Round 2 Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership match, were piped, in a steady drizzle, on to the pitch by the Williamwood Pipe Band. Much of the initial play took place in the Melrose half, and, at 12 minutes, Melrose were pinged for off-side with Gregor Drummond claiming the three points for a successful penalty kick. A similar offence, with a resulting three points kicked by Drumond, occurred at 22 minutes to double the home team lead. During the first half hour Melrose “botched” two attacking lines-out close to the GHA line, but, at the third time of asking, at 30 minutes, the lineout worked well and, following a series of plays, Jack Dobie dived in between the posts for the first try of the match, duly converted by Roly Brett to give Melrose a single point lead. Just before half time Stuart Kirk mis-timed a tackle, putting his head on the wrong side of an opponent’s knee, and had to retire with a head injury.
Half time – GHA 6 Melrose 7.
The second half was only four minutes old when Donald Crawford had to retire injured. Both teams strove to counter the wet weather induced mistakes and both defences predominated. At 63 minutes Melrose were awarded a penalty and Brett opted to take the three points on offer. Thereafter Finn Douglas was held up over the line and Corey Goldsbrough fumbled an inside pass from Ben McLean with the line at his mercy. With the last play of the match Dario Ewing squirmed his way over for a try after a penalty maul close to the line, with Drummond’s conversion giving the hosts a three-point victory.
GHA 13 Melrose 10
GHA – Gregor Drummond, Caleb Thomson, Charlie Lonergan, Michael Hughes, Glen Little, Aminio Bogidrau, George Baird, Samuel Collins, Ruairi Campbell, Michal Fox, Adam Kerr, Sean Callaghan, Ruairidh Airlie, Dario Ewing©, Luke McCutcheon. Replacements – Luis Barron, Lochlan Hodge, Callum MacGregor, Oscar Lonergan-Black, Jonathon Davis, Euan McKirdy, Andrew Goudie.
Melrose – Donald Crawford, Finn Douglas, Corey Goldsbrough, Declan Mulcahy, Stuart Kirk, Roly Brett, Douglas Crawford, Jack Dobie, Ben McLean, Zen Szwagrzak, Angus Weir, Angus Runciman©, Ollie Furness, Elliot Ruthven, Ru Campbell. Replacements – Mattie Bertram, Will Ferrie, Logan Kirk, Oli Anderson, Roan Frostwick, Scott Clark, Zander Mactaggart.
Referee – Ruairidh Campbell
Photos from Andy Mclean Digital Images
