Melrose v Hawick - 7/2/26
Melrose v Hawick – 7/2/26
Greenyards debutants Charlie Robbie and Jaxson Douglas together with centurion Donald Crawford were in the squad to-day for the final Melrose match of the 2025/26 Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership season, which was played in cold and damp conditions under the Greenyards floodlights. Despite Hawick having most of the initial pressure it took 13 minutes before the scoreboard was called into action. Hawick were awarded a penalty which they kicked to touch in St. Mary’s Corner and, from the resulting maul, Fraser Renwick crashed over for an unconverted try. Ten minutes later Zander Ramage kicked a penalty to give Melrose their first points. The Melrose lineout had been mis-firing throughout the half and another overthrow, at 32 minutes, allowed Hawick to advance rapidly up-field with Grant Huggan finishing a good passing move to dot down in St. Mary’s Corner with Zach Lewis adding the extras. Hawick benefitted from a 50/22 lineout at 36 minutes earning themselves a penalty and another lineout in the Church Corner. From the maul Russell Anderson claimed the try and Lewis the conversion.
Half time – Melrose 3 Hawick 19
Eight minutes into the second half Paddy Anderson latched onto a loose ball on the far side and out-sprinted the Hawick defence to score to the left of the posts with Logan Karl converting. At 69 minutes Melrose won a penalty scrum 5 convincingly with Bruce Colvine nipping into St. Mary’s Corner for an unconverted try. The Hawick bonus point try came six minutes later when, following prolonged Hawick pressure a considerable number of picks and drives ended with Renwick scoring his second try which Lewis converted. Two minutes from the end a “bruhaha” developed under the Melrose posts ending with a penalty reversal much to Melrose relief. Thus, play changed ends and from a series of plays near the Hawick posts Zen Szwagrzak collected the ball and barrelled over for a try converted by Ramage to give Melrose their eighth losing bonus point from twelve defeats.
Melrose 22 Hawick 26.
Eclectic Coffee “Man of the Match” – Jack Dobie
During the season, except for Ayr, Currie and Kelso, Melrose defeated all other teams on aggregate over the two matches contested and remain in the Premiership for season 2026/27.
Melrose Rugby thanks all the players for their efforts over the season and, to those leaving the Club at season’s end, wish them all success in their future careers.
Melrose – Morgan Gabe, Connor Spence, Charlie Robbie, Zander Ramage, Corey Goldsbrough, Logan Karl, Doug Crawford, Jack Dobie, Sam Rainey, Adam Arkley, Thomas Brown, Angus Weir, Dylan Cockburn, Paddy Anderson©, Sam Derrick. Replacements – Bruce Colvine, Jaxson Douglas, Zen Szwagrzak, Declan Mulcahy, Will Ferrie, Stuart Kirk, Donald Crawford.
Hawick – Lee Armstrong, Charlie Welsh, Andrew Mitchell, Grant Huggan, Connor McLeod, Kyle Brunton, Zach Lewis, Shawn Muir, Fraser Renwick, Nicky Little, Hugh Donaldson, Dalton Redpath, Russell Anderson, Mikey Swailes, Connor Sutherland. Replacements – Liam Graham, Fergus Kinnaird, Fin Douglas, Ronan McKean, Cian Riddell, Eli Hamilton, Gareth Welsh.
Referee – Rob McDowell.
Assistants – Evan Maguire & Bob Nevins.