Melrose v GHA - 29/11/25
Melrose v GHA – 29/11/25 (2)
Saturday’s somewhat fractious Round 11 Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership match was played in extremely cold conditions with a blustery breeze and occasional showers. With three minutes played the visitors received a Melrose kick out of defence on halfway. Following a series of plays Oliver McKenna made a break left passing right to Euan McKirdy who, in turn, passed to Charlie Lonergan who took advantage of loose Melrose defence to score an unconverted try in the Policeman’s Corner. Two minutes later Morgan Gabe received the ball on halfway and jinked his way to the visitors 22 before off-loading to debutant Jake Dalziel, backing up well, who scored to the right of the posts with Scott Clark converting. At 17 minutes Scott Plumridge ended a penalty lineout rolling maul with an unconverted try in the Town Corner. Gregor Drummond kicked a penalty at 27 minutes and this was followed four minutes later by a yellow card for Charlie Lonergan. With three minutes more played Clark ended the first half scoring by kicking a penalty courtesy of the right hand upright.
Half time – Melrose 10 GHA 13.
Four minutes into the second half a multi-player fracas developed in front of the stand resulting in Ben McLean and Sean Callaghan being invited to spend the next ten minutes on the naughty step to cool their ardour. Just before their return to the fray, from a penalty lineout in the Policeman’s Corner, Melrose spread the ball left across the pitch and back toward the posts where Dalziel received the ball, dummied, then passed to Roly Brett whose try to the right of the posts was converted by Dalziel. Two minutes later Jack Dobie made a fine break mid-field and when he was tackled the ball was passed to Brett then Ru. Campbell and on to Gabe. The full back chipped his opposite number recollected the ball then raced in for a try converted by Dalziel whose attempt at a penalty at 77 minutes rebounded back in-field off the upright.
Melrose 24 GHA 13.
Rugby Radio “Man of the Match”, sponsored by Oak and Black, was Jake Dalziel. A tremendous start, by a 17 year-old schoolboy, to his senior career.
Jake receiving his Oak & Black Rugby Radio Man of the Match trophy from Hugh Brown
Melrose – Morgan Gabe, Finn Douglas, Donald Crawford, Roly Brett, Paddy Anderson, Jake Dalziel, Scott Clark, Jack Dobie, Ben McLean, Oli Anderson, Ollie Furness, Angus Runciman©, Will Ferrie, Henno Bowe, Sam Derrick. Replacements – Sam Rainey, Adam Arkley, Angus Weir, Ru. Campbell, Doug Crawford, Logan Karl, Corey Goldsbrough.
GHA – Gregor Drummond, Ross Nolan, Charlie Lonergan, Nicholas Thompson, Michael Hughes, Tom Lonergan, Euan McKirdy, Oliver McKenna, Ruairi Campbell, Jackson Rennie, Adam Kerr, Sean Callaghan, Scott Plumridge, Dario Ewing, Luke McCutcheon. Replacements – Euan McGovern, Sam Colllins, Michael Fox, Jonathon Davies, Oscar Lonergan-Black, James Currie, Robbie Baird.
Referee – David Young. Assistants – Bryan Johnston & Digby Thomas.
Click on the button below for Andy Mclean’s photos of the day!