Melrose v Heriots - 19/9/26
Melrose v Heriots – 19/9/26
The “Graham Dall Trophy” was on offer for this Round 4 Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership match, played in bright conditions, but with a strong diagonal wind. Heriots kicked off with wind advantage and much of the first half was played in the Melrose half of the pitch. With eleven minutes played Ross Brown burst through the Melrose defence passing to Struan Talac who nipped in under the posts for a try which Isaac Coates converted. Eight minutes later a fine Heriots passing move ended with Ross McKnight scoring an unconverted try in the Church Corner. At 24 minutes Melrose took a scrum 5 for a penalty to the left of the posts and, somehow, Jack Dobie managed to touch-down with Luke Townsend adding the extras. Ten minutes later, from another scrum 5, Heriots “set” too soon giving Melrose a free kick which they took quickly. A series of picks and drives then took place with Craig Greer burrowing over for a try which Townsend converted to give Melrose a two-point lead. With the break about to be called Heriots won a lineout on halfway on the far side of the pitch. The ball was passed quickly right across the pitch to Thomas Glendinning who needed no second invitation to motor to the posts for a try converted by Coates. Lead back to Heriots!
Half time – Melrose 14 Heriots 19.
With seven minutes of the second half played Donald Crawford, in his own 22, collected a long Heriots kick out of defence and broke down the Stand side eventually passing to his brother Doug who, in turn, passed to Jarrah Bell. The final pass, from the second-row forward, was to Struan Hutchison who streaked in under the posts for a try converted by Townsend. The Melrose “bonus point” try came at 57 minutes when, following a penalty lineout rolling maul in St. Mary’s Corner, Greer cashed over for a try converted by Townsend. Having come on from the bench a few minutes earlier Elliot Ruthven, at 63 minutes, committed a misdemeanour in the Policeman’s Corner and earned himself a yellow card. Consequently, Heriots kicked the penalty into the Town Corner and from the maul the ball was passed right with Talac scoring to the right of the posts for the Heriots “bonus point” try which Coates converted. Maintaining a two-point lead for 13 minutes, part of which with only 14 players, doesn’t half make an old man’s heart work overtime!
Melrose 28 Heriots 26.
Melrose – Callum Anderson, Ben Pickles, Roly Brett, Gav Wood, Donald Crawford, Luke Townsend, Doug Crawford. Jack Dobie, Millar Anderson, Zen Szwagrzak, Jarrah Bell, Angus Runcoiman©, Craig Fairbairn, Paddy Anderson, Sam Derrick. Replacements – Robbie Robinson, Craig Greer, Natale Frangione, Elliot Ruthven, Angus Common, Struan Hutchison, Scott Clark.
Heriots – Daniel King, Ross McKnight, Zak Smith, Edward Hutton, Thomas Glendinning, Isaac Coates, Struan Talac, Michael Jones, Rory Jackson, Euan McLaren, Patrick Spence, Ross Brown, Rory Kirkpatrick, Fergus Wood, Ali Johnston. Replacements – Oliver Bowden, Struan Cessford, Archie Appleby, Callum Anderson, Hugo Alderson, Calum Jessop, Harry Hitchins.
Referee – Daniel Evans. Assistants – Murray Oliver & David Changleng.
Infinity Blu Dental Melrose “Man of the Match” – Zen Szwagrzak