1st XV Results and Fixture List 2007/8

Melrose 33 GHA 17

Although the clocks are not due to change for another 12 hours the weather certainly had changed with this SHE Premier 1 match being played on a dull, moist afternoon with a strong and bitterly cold wind blowing the length of the pitch. Melrose kicked off into the wind and, after 3 minutes, quick hands across the face of the posts saw Scott Wight cross for a try between the posts giving himself an easy conversion. Playing advantage from a high tackle four minutes later Scott McCormick scored a try between the posts giving Wight another straight forward conversion. Following a rolling maul, at 13 minutes, near the Policeman's Corner, the ball was spun wide for Callum Anderson to dive in between the posts for a try and another straight forward conversion for Wight. GHA set up a rolling maul three minutes later culminating in Andy Boag crashing over for a try. The second quarter of the match was all "huff and puff" with no further scoring.
Half time - Melrose 21 GHA 5.
Nine minutes into the second half Richard Higgins received a "yellow card", but Melrose did not buckle. A rolling maul after a lineout steal saw John Dalziel crash over for the Melrose "bonus point" try in the corner and, with a much more difficult kick, Wight was still successful with the conversion. Following a break up the far touch line Boag latched on to the ball and dived over into the Policeman's Corner for a try which left Niall Cassie with a difficult, but successful conversion. At 68 minutes, after a series of cross-field passes David Whiteford dived in for an unconverted try in the corner. GHA never gave up and after an interception on the halfway Rory Watson raced in for an unconverted try in the Policeman's Corner.
Melrose 33 GHA 17