Watsonians v Melrose - 24/1/26
Watsonians v Melrose – 24/1/26
To-day’s Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership match, being played for the “BreadalbineFinance” Trophy, encountered cold, dull, breezy and damp conditions on a soft pitch. Watsonians kicked off with Andy McLean plucking the ball out of the air and starting a series of plays across the pitch. Stu Allison made the break and, with only 51 seconds on the clock, scored the opening try converted by McLean. A “déjà vu” situation! Play was mainly mid-field when, with only their second visit to the Melrose 22, at 15 minutes, Allison broke again with Harris McRobbie completing a series of plays with a try converted by McLean. Twelve minutes later Melrose attacked the Watsonian line and, from the edge of a ruck, Doug Crawford spotted a gap through which he nipped for the first Melrose try converted by Zander Ramage. Then, just before the break, Dom Coetzer was bundled into touch in the left corner thwarting his attempt to score.
Half time – Watsonians 14 Melrose 7
Five minutes into the second half, following a quickly taken tap penalty by Doug Crawford short of the Watsonian line, a series of plays developed before Zen Srwagrzak scored the try which Ramage converted to level the scores. From the re-start Angus Weir fly-hacked a loose ball through with Sam Derrick picking up the bouncing ball to score with Ramage adding the extras. At 62 minutes, from a scrum on the right which Melrose won, the ball was kicked left with Morgan Gabe showing his soccer skills before collecting and racing in to the left of the posts for a swallow-dive Melrose bonus point try which Ramage converted. With five minutes remaining until no-side Watsonians put in a fine passing move left to Max Garry who scored an unconverted try in the left corner, McLean’s conversion attempt rebounding back in-field off the cross-bar to deny Watsonians a losing bonus point.
Watsonians 19 Melrose 28
The “Breadalbine Finance” Trophy was presented, for the first time in its existence to Melrose captain, Angus Runciman.
“Off—side Line” “Man of the Match” – Angus Runciman.
Watsonians – Dom Coetzer, Andy McLean, Ronan Kerr, Luca Anderson, Lomond Macpherson, Chris Bell, Brodie Young, Donald Voas, Boyd Cooper, Harris McRobbie, Luis Ball, Kwagga van Niekirk©, Fin Stewart, Andrew Steven, Stu Allison. Replacements – Toby Gray, Cam Murphy, Cole Lamberton, Johnny Roberts, Craig Davidson, Murray Scott, Max Garry.
Melrose – Morgan Gabe, Declan Mulcahy, Donald Crawford, Zander Ramage, Charlie Robbie, Logan Karl, Doug Crawford, Jack Dobie, Sam Rainey, Adam Arkley, Thomas Brown, Angus Runciman©, Will Ferrie, Paddy Anderson, Sam Derrick. Replacements – Rbbie Robinson, Gregor Lindsay, Zen Srwagrzak, Stuart Kirk, Angus Weir, Jamie Campbell, Connor Spence.
Referee – David Yung. Assistants – John McGowan & Bob Nevins.