Melrose v Hawick - 17/10/26

Melrose v Hawick – 17/10/26

This “feisty” Round 7 Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership “local derby” match was played in cold and still, but sunny conditions, and with the visitors coughing up so many early penalties it was surprising that there was no evidence of a punitive card to match the colour of the bright sunshine. Melrose opened the scoring after five minutes play when they took a scrum 5 on the left for a penalty. A series of plays developed crabbing right before Gav Wood scrambled over to the right of the posts for an unconverted try. Play continued, mainly in the Hawick half, until six minutes before the break when Hawick were awarded a penalty under the Melrose posts. They took a quick tap, but unable to defeat the close Melrose defence they eventually passed the ball long and wide right to Jardine Vevers who, with quickstep twinkle toes, danced round two Melrose defenders to score an unconverted try in St. Mary’s Corner. The half time whistle came as Luke Townsend attempted, unsuccessfully, a drop goal.

Half time – Melrose 5 Hawick 5.

Seven minutes into the second half Melrose took a scrum for a penalty in the Church Corner, with Doug Crawford passing left to Townsend who made use of a “two on one” slipping the ball to Charlie Robie who squeezed into the corner for a try converted by Townsend. Five minutes later Melrose won a penalty lineout in the Church Corner with the ball being passed right towards the posts where a series of plays developed. Townsend received the ball passing left to Callum Anderson who dummied then passed the ball to Donald Crawford whose try was converted by Townsend. The Melrose bonus point try came at 58 minutes. A rolling maul developed in the Church Corner after a penalty lineout and Sam Derrick, finding no Hawick player in front of him, cantered over to the left of the posts with Townsend adding the extras. At this point, with Hawick having run out of fit props, uncontested scrums were required. With 71 minutes played Melrose put in some superb passing. From a break down the left the ball was passed cross-field right before being passed back left to Robbie who scored his second try in the Church Corner and Townsend kicked his fourth conversion. With a couple of minutes remaining Hawick took a scrum for a penalty on the Melrose 5m line with, following a series of plays, Mikey Swailes drove over for a try converted by Owain Gray.

Melrose 33 Hawick 12.

Melrose – Callum Anderson, Charlie Robbie, Ben Pickles, Gav Wood, Donald Crawford, Luke Townsend, Doug Crawford, Jack Dobie, Logan Kirk, Robbie Robinson, Sam Derrick Angus Runciman©, Craig Fairbairn, Paddy Anderson, Ru Campbell. Replacements – Jarrah Bell, Elliot Ruthven, Craig Greer, Struan Hutchison, Scott Clark, Roly Brett, Natale Frangione.

Hawick – Owain Gray, Jardine Vevers, Andrew Mitchell, Luke Scott, Ronan McKean, Cian Riddell, Liam Bouglas, Nicky Little, Fraser Renwick©, Rogan Huntley, Hughie Donaldson, Jack Henry, Stuart Graham, Callum Renwick, Connor Sutherland. Replacements – Jack Brown, Connor Crawley, Tom Huggan, Niall Vevers, Mikey Swailes, Gareth Welsh, Zane Glanville.

Referee – Dan Evans. Assistants – Willie Anderson & Charles Samson.

“Eclectic Coffee” Melrose man of the Match, as selected by “The Offside Line” – Callum Anderson.