Melrose 24 Gala 22

For this "Southern Reporter" Border League clash the weather was horrible - wet and dull - with a slippery surface to the pitch. In contrast the rugby was exciting with tension building right up to the end. In five minutes, following a high kick ahead, Scott Wight crossed for a try in the town corner, admirably converted by Scott Ruthven. Play ebbed backwards and forwards and then at nineteen minutes, a Gala penalty led to a lineout 5 metres from the Melrose line. From the ensuing maul Alan Johnston scored a try which Andy McLean converted. Honours even. A player from each side was "sin binned" for "hand-bagging" at 32 minutes, and then, at 37 minutes, Ruthven kicked a penalty to give Melrose the half time lead.
Half time - Melrose 10 Gala 7.
Nine minutes into the second half Chris Dalgleish finished off a Gala handling move by scoring a try in the Policeman's corner. Ten minutes later, after another high kick ahead, the ball bounced kindly into the hands of Bob Pollock who scored a try in the Gattonside corner, admirably converted by Ruthven. With Gala pressing on the Melrose line, at 65 minutes, the loose ball out of the back of the Gala ruck was cleaned up by Johnny Bradburn and the Melrose breakout, for most of the length of the pitch, ended with Wight scoring his second try, this time in the Gattonside corner, again converted by Ruthven. Gala did not lie down and, keeping up the pressure, sent Iain Berthinussen in for a try in the Policeman's corner, at 75 minutes. With the last move of the match George Graham rumbled over for a try in the town corner, but, much to the relief of the home crowd, McLean's attempted conversion was wide of the posts.
Melrose 24 Gala 22.