Melrose 32 Peebles 30

BT Premiership Division 1 and "The Southern Reporter" Border League points were at stake this afternon. On a bright, sunny afternoon and on a beautifully prepared pitch, the strong downfield wind ensured that this would be a game of two halves.
After 9 minutes Cammy Twigley scored a try in the left corner with Scott Nichol converting, and just one minute later Nichol kicked a penalty to give the visitors a 10 point lead, with the wind. Five minutes later, following a line out near the Peebles line, Steven Shiel dummied his way over for a try converted by Scott Ruthven. At 18 minutes Scott Wight intercepted a Peebles pass in the Melrose 22 and, having run half the length of the pitch, off-loaded to Ruthven who scored a try in the left hand corner. At 22 minutes Nichol kicked another penalty and then, just on half time, Bruce Hirstwood scored a try in the left corner with Nichol again converting.
Half time - Melrose 12 Peebles 20.
Nichol increased the Peebles lead with his third penalty at 48 minutes. Following a pick and drive, at 52 minutes, Alec Clark drove over for a try, converted by Ruthven and, 10 minutes later, Clark intercepted a loose Peebles pass to sprint over in the right corner for his second and the Melrose "bonus point" try, again converted by Ruthven. Melrose hung on to their 6 point lead until Hirstwood scrambled over for a try at the left corner post with 6 minutes remaining, Nichol's magnificent touchline conversion giving Peebles the single point lead. The final minutes of this exciting and well behaved match were frantic and ended with Ruthven, following his two previous failures,converting a drop goal immediately prior to the "no-side" whistle.
Melrose 32 Peebles 30.