Melrose 22 Dunfermline 32

The fifth round of the Scottish Hydro Electric National Cup was played on a beautiful afternoon with a bright sun, no wind and absolutely no excuse for the woeful attempts at kicks at goal, of which there were only 5 successes out of 14 attempts. Scott Wight, with one of the few successes, kicked a penalty in the first minute to open the scoring, but it was at 15 minutes before the first try was scored. After a Melrose defender slipped on his 22 the Dunfermline pack picked up and drove with Fraser McKenzie gaining the try converted by Stevie McColl. Graeme Dodds returned the lead to Melrose at 23 minutes. A lineout in the Policeman's Corner followed a penalty and Dodds drove over in the corner for a try. Five minutes later Andy Brown, on the wing, received a big pass and dived in at the Church Corner for a try. McColl added a penalty at 32 minutes. On the interval McColl received a pass 22 metres out and danced his way through the Melrose defence to score a try just to the right of the posts.
Half time - Melrose 8 Dunfermline 20.
Six minutes into the second half a Dunfermline attacking kick rebounded off Andrew Lawrie who gained possession and ran in for a try between the posts from halfway, Wight adding the conversion. With a two to one overlap, at 62 minutes, Jonny Smart sprinted down the far touch line to cross for a try in from the Policeman's Corner. Four minutes later the same player intercepted a long Melrose pass to cross for his second try with McColl, this time, adding the conversion points. Eventually, just prior to no-side, Richard Higgins rumbled over from two metres for a try converted by Wight - too little too late!
Melrose 22 Dunfermline 32.