Melrose v Watsonians - The Breadalbane Cup - 26/9/26

Melrose v Watsonians – 26/9/26

What a cracker of a game, played for the “Breadalbane Trophy”. This Round 5 Arnold Clark Men’s Premier match was played in bright conditions with a strong diagonal wind into which Melrose kicked off. With three minutes played Harry Clark broke through weak Melrose defence to score at the posts. Bruce Weatherhead converted then kicked a penalty six minutes later. With another three minutes played Watsonians disrupted a Melrose lineout in the Policeman’s Corner, but Angus Runciman got his foot to the loose ball and, following up, scored an unconverted try. At 17 minutes, following a penalty lineout in the Town Corner, a series of plays developed with Jarrah Bell scoring an unconverted try, before, two minutes later, Clark repeated his previous effort with Weatherhead converting. From a scrum 5 in the Church Corner, at 24 minutes, Max Garry nipped up the blind side to score with Weatherhead converting well from the touchline. On the half hour Melrose won a penalty lineout in the Policeman’s Corner with Zen Szwagrzak barrelling over for a try which Luke Townsend converted. First half scoring ended with a Weatherhead penalty just on the break.

Half time – Melrose 17 Watsonians 27.

With only a minute of the second half played Stu Allison broke through a shambolic Melrose defence to score the Watsonian bonus point try to the right of the posts with Weatherhead adding the extras. The Melrose bonus point try came four minutes later when Donald Crawford scored an unconverted try in St. Mary’s Corner. Four minutes later Bell ended a similar move in the same corner and, this time, Townsend added two further points. A further four minutes on Weatherhead completed a series of Watsonian plays with an unconverted try in the Policeman’s Corner. From a scrum on the Watsonian 22, at 57 minutes, Doug Crawford passed to Gav Wood who, in turn, passed to Donald Crawford whose try at the posts was converted by Townsend. With Watsonians pressing in the Policeman’s Corner, from the kick-off, Runciman was adjudged to have upset play illegally, and despite his protestations of innocence, was shown a yellow card. Further Watsonian pressure ended with Gus Goodwin scoring an unconverted try in the Policeman’s Corner. At 65 minutes Townsend kicked a penalty, but it only took Watsonians two minutes to score again. They were pressing in the Policeman’s Corner before a long pass wide to the left from Angus Robson allowed Weatherhead to score and convert from the Town Corner. With five minutes of the match remaining Boston Kerapa earned himself a yellow card and Melrose took a scrum 5 for the penalty. Ru Campbell picked up at the base of the scrum and nipped over for a try converted by Townsend. The Melrose pack then took advantage of their numerical superiority and laid siege to the Watsonian line ending with Bell, at the last play of the match, scoring his hat-trick try which levelled the scores. Townsend’s pressure conversion from in front of the posts was successful giving Melrose the lead for the fist time in the match, and victory. At the end of the match the Breadalbane Trophy was presented to the Melrose captain, Angus Runciman, and numerous racing Melrose hearts returned to normal rhythm. It is tough to lose a 104-point match by only 2 points and thanks are extended to Watsonians for being such magnificent opponents.

Melrose 53 Watsonians 51

Melrose – Callum Anderson, Charlie Robbie, Ben Pickles, Gav Wood, Donald Crawford, Luke Townsend, Scott Clark, Jack Dobie, Logan Kirk, Zen Szwagrzak, Jarrah Bell, Angus Runciman©, Craig Fairbairn, Paddy Anderson, Sam Derrick. Replacements – Robbie Robinson, Crai Greer, Jaxson Douglas, Ru Campbell, Doug Crawford, Struan Hutchison, Roly BRETT.

Watsonians – Bruce Weatherhead, Harry Fisher, Gus Goodwin, Harry Clark, Max Garry, Angus Robson, Brodie Young, Don Voas, Matt Pritchard, Adrian Kotze, Kieran Watt, Fin Mather, Hamish Mather, Taylor Wilson, Stu Allison©. Replacements – James Milligan, Matthew Marshall, Abraham Mataitini, Boston Kerapa, Chris Bell, Murray Scott, Hamish Seggie.

Referee – Ciaran Stark. Assistants – Brian McGuff & Simon Aldridge.

”Graze Guard” Melrose Man of the Match – Donald Crawford.

Graze Guard Man of the Match - Donald Crawford