Aberdeen GSFP 28 Melrose 23

It was a very disappointed squad of players and coaches who travelled back from Aberdeen on Saturday with only one bonus point to show from an attractive display against the League leaders.

Melrose started the game well and took the play to the home side. They soon went ahead with a Scott Ruthven penalty and after ten minutes scored the first try following a good back move with Henry Lawson setting up Geoff Caldwell for the try. The home side hit back with a penalty and then a try in the corner following scrappy defensive work from a kick through to equalise the scores. Scott Ruthven then kicked a penalty to put Melrose back in front 11-8 but Aberdeen came back again with a try created by former Melrose player Kacey Mitchell. The conversion giving the home side a 15-11 half time lead.

Immediately after half time Melrose had regained the lead when a long break by Henry Lawson forced a touch in the corner from which the pack drove for Wayne Mitchell to score in customary style. Ruthven's conversion made the score 18-15. Johnny Weston then made a superb break up the middle of the field but ran out of support but another long run out of defence by Lawson led to Geoff Caldwell in possession 40 metres but he kicked ahead and took advantage of the bounce to score a fine try. Ruthven's conversion hit the post and came back but with an eight point advantage going into the last quarter things looked promising for the visitors. Straight from the kick-off Henry Lawson ran back at Aberdeeen and another try for Melrose was halted by a last gasp tackle by the home full back. At this stage Melrose had plenty chances to clinch the game but handling errors proved costly.

Aberdeen then kicked a penalty to reduce the deficit to 23-18. Disaster then hit Melrose when Scott Ruthven's kick-off failed to go 10 metres from the scrum. The no. 8 picked up and passed to the scrum half who ran from the half way line to score in the corner to equalise the scores. Kicking errors then caused Melrose problems again and they found themselves in defence as the home side scored. They had a chance of winning the game following pressure the ball was passed along the backs allowing home full back, Rob Seib, to score with two minutes left. Melrose then set about trying to win another game at the last gasp and following a line out drove to within a metre of the line but the Referee blew for full time before the scrum could be taken to leave the home side very relieved victors.

This was an excellent display by Melrose who were on top in the forwards and produced several enterprising back moves but mistakes cost them tries and eventual defeat which they did not deserve.