Boroughmuir 23 Melrose 19

The first of this season's SHE Premier 1 matches saw Melrose travel to Meggetland on a fine afternoon, but with a strong wind. Melrose had first use of the wind, but it was the home team that scored first. A Melrose penalty attempt had gone astray and from the resulting 22, at 7 minutes, Elgan O'Donnell shredded the Melrose defence passing to Rory Couper who raced over for a try between the posts, O'Donnell converting. At 14 & 20 minutes Scott Ruthven and O'Donnell traded penalties, then Ruthven, with two more penalties at 21 & 25 minutes reduced the Boroughmuir lead to a single point. On the half hour mark Boroughmuir launched an attack from within their own 22 resulting in Angus Martyn diving over for a try in the corner. The half ended with Graeme Dodds being invited to spend 10 minutes in the "sin bin" allegedly for stamping in an attempt to release the ball.
Half time - Boroughmuir 15 Melrose 9.
During the spell when Melrose were down to 14 men Boroughmuir made use of the wind camping out on the Melrose line before Couper barged over for his second try. The gap further widened at 55 minutes when O'Donnell kicked his third penalty. It was now the turn of the home team to be reduced to 14 men when Fergus Pringle was "yellow carded2 for barging Ross Miller out of the lineout. During Pringle's absence, at 68 minutes, Dodds crashed over for a try. Pringle was hardly back on the pitch before Boroughmuir were again reduced to 14 men with Martyn being sent to the "bin". From the lineout following the resulting penalty the ball was moved to the left with Scott Wight, now on for Ruthven, passing to Charles Robson who dived over for a try. Now only 4 points in arrears Melrose kept up the pressure, but, unfortunately, they only gained a "losing bonus point".
Boroughmuir 23 Melrose 19