Waverley Cup 2025 - Melrose v Gala, 26/12/25
Rosie Bee & Rooney take to the pitch!
Melrose v Gala – 26/12/25
In front of over 2,000 spectators and following a “curtain raiser” match where Melrose Storm defeated Gala Reivers by 56 points to 10 this Waverley Cup and Border League fixture, played in cold, but still and dry conditions under the Greenyards floodlights, was a much closer affair. Gala pressed hard from the start, but it was Melrose who scored first when, at 12 minutes, after a stolen lineout ball on the left play went right in a series of plays and from a ruck Andy Josefski, a grandson of the late Derek Brown, spotted a gap and darted to the right of the posts for an unconverted try. Five minutes later, from a lineout, right, on the Melrose 22 a series of plays crabbed left and returned right before the ball was passed right to Gregor Collins who crossed in St. Mary’s Corner and ran towards the posts for a try converted by Cameron Brydon. From the kick-off Ru Campbel gathered the ball and progressed rapidly towards the Gala line. When he was tackled a series of picks and drives developed ending with Adam Arkley scoring and Josefski converting. Seven minutes later, from a penalty lineout 5m out in the Policeman’s Corner, Ben McLean completed the rolling maul with an unconverted try. Then, at 29 minutes, from a series of plays, Collins followed up his kick ahead to dot down, within inches of the touch-in-goal line, a bouncing ball in St. Mary’s Corner with Brydon adding the extras from the touch line.
Half time – Melrose 17 Gala 14.
Two minutes into the second half Oli Furness picked up a loose ball on the Gala 22 and showing a great turn of pace for a second row forward out-stripped the opposition to score between the posts with Josefski converting. Ben Gill knocked on over the line just before, at 51 minutes, following a penalty lineout rolling maul in the Town Corner Xavier Herbert finished proceedings with an unconverted try. Despite being denied a try, for an immediately previous infringement, Ritchie Mitchell made a fine break after a series of picks and drives, at 58 minutes, off-loading left to Gill who scored an unconverted try in the Town Corner to level the scores. Then, two minutes short of no-side Scott Clark slotted a 40m penalty to ensure that the Waverley Cup remained at the Greenyards.
Radio Rugby “Man of the Match”, sponsored by Oak and Black, - Adam Arkley.
Melrose 27 Gala 24
After the presentation of the Waverley Cup a commemorative wooden plaque was presented to Sinclair Paterson, Gala RFC President, by George Runciman, Melrose RFC President, to commemorate Gala RFC’s 150th Anniversary. At the same time Rob Moffat, Melrose RFC Vice- President, presented to Duncan Taylor, Gala RFC Vice-President, a split half-in-half jersey in the colours of Gala RFC 2025 (Maroon) and 1875 (Yellow and Black)
Melrose – Donald Crawford, Connor Spence, Corey Goldsbrough, Zander Ramage, Bruce Colvine, Andy Josefski, Douglas Crawford, Jack Dobie, Ben McLean, Adam Arkley, Ben Weir, Oli Furness, Elliot Ruthven©, Zander Mactaggart, Ru Campbell. Replacements – Rooney Kirk, Robbie Robinson, Thomas Brown, Will Ferrie, Henno Bowe, Scott Clark, Declan Mulcahy.
Gala – Jack Niven, Cameron Brydon, Ben Gill©, John Turnbull, Gregor Collins, Hamish Seggie, Ritchie Mitchell, Gavin Fisher, Xavier Herbert, Grant Stevenson, Glenn McCrum, Daniel Kerr, Sam Scott, Sam Smith, Robbie Irvine. Replacements – Lewis Oliver, Jamie Bell, Rowan Chalmers, Rory Wilson, Murray Wilson, Aiden McNellis, Craig Keddie.
Referee – Darren Fisher. Assistants – Dvid Changleng & Mark Welsh.