Melrose v Currie 20/09/25
This Round 5 Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership match was played, despite the “Yellow Weather Warning”, in cold, still conditions with only a hint of drizzle in the air. Currie kicked off and, with only 45 seconds on the clock, retrieved the ball passing left for Euan Crombie to dive into the Church Corner for an unconverted try. Immediately after Thomas Brown succumbed to a shoulder injury and was forced to leave the field. Melrose woes deepened, at 6 minutes, when Currie won a penalty lineout in the Church Corner with Ed Hasdell breaking off from the maul to score to the left of the posts. Alex Harley converted. From a penalty lineout in the Town Corner, at 20 minutes, a series of Melrose plays ended with Zander Mactaggart scoring at the posts with Logan Karl adding the extras. From another penalty lineout in the Town Corner, seven minutes later, Will Ferrie scored an unconverted try, then, five minutes short of the break, Melrose won another penalty lineout in the Town Corner and, from the maul, Douglas Crawford broke left for an unconverted try.
Half time – Melrose 17 Currie 12.
Four minutes into the second half, and after a penalty lineout rolling maul in the Church Corner, a series of Melrose plays developed culminating in Roan Frostwick scoring the Melrose bonus point try to the left of the posts with Karl converting. Currie replied immediately with Dan Halkon intercepting a Melrose pass on half way on the right and racing for an unconverted try in the Town Corner and, as if that wasn’t enough, after a series of plays immediately after, Rhys Davis scored the Currie bonus point try at the posts with Harley’s conversion tying the scores at 24 points apiece. From the re-start Alex Maxwell was shown a straight red card for a dangerously high tackle. At 58 minutes Sam Derrick completed a penalty lineout rolling maul in the Church Corner with a try converted by Karl who was wide with a penalty eight minutes later. At 69 minutes Fraser Sayers skinned the Melrose defence to score an unconverted try in the Town Corner. With eight minutes until no-side, from a quick tap penalty 10m short of the Melrose line the entire Currie pack barrelled over the line for a try for which Gregor Scougall appeared to be receiving the congratulations, but, apparently, it was Hasdell who claimed the touch-down. Harley kicked the conversion. The match ended with Melrose heading for the Currie line with Ru Campbell in the van, but, just short of the line, Melrose were pinged for holding to the ball too long on the ground and Currie dispatched the ball over the dead-ball line to end an interesting match.
Melrose 31 Currie 36
Melrose – Finn Douglas, Paddy Anderson, Corey Goldsbrough, Logan Karl, Declan Mulcahy, Roan Frostwick, Douglas Crawford, Jack Dobie, Logan Kirk, Zen Szwagrzak, Thomas Brown, Angus Runciman©, Will Ferrie, Zander Mactaggart, Sam Derrick. Replacements – Sam Rainey, Adam Arkley, Angus Weir, Elliot Ruthven, Ru Campbell, Henno Bowe, Callum Henderson.
Currie – Charlie Brett, Ryan Daley, Euan Crombie, Scott Robeeson, Fraser Sayers, Alex Harley, Gregor Christie©, Chris Anderson, Thomas Jeffrey, Cairn Ramsay, Dan Halkon, Rhys Davies, Sam Cardosi, Archie Fletcher, Ed Hasdell. Replacements – Alex Maxwell, Gregor Scougall, Kyle Borthwick, Ross Morrison, Hamish Chisholm, Andrew McCall, Kody McGovern.
Referee – David Sutherland. Assistants – Digby Thomas & Bob Nevins.
