Currie 24

Melrose 27

Eilidh Walker at Malleny Park

MELROSE held their nerve to secure a bonus-point win against a determined Currie side in a close match at Malleny Park on Saturday.

Currie were bolstered by three professionals for the game in the form of Ratu Tagive, Ryan Grant and Jarrod Firth all of Glasgow Warriors while Melrose had Nick Beavon of Edinburgh Rugby.

With just four minutes played Melrose were first on the score sheet through Jason Baggott, playing at scrum-half in place of an injured Murdo McAndrew, as he burst from the back of a maul to cross in the corner.

Baggott missed the conversion but gave Melrose an early 0-5 lead.

Currie proved dangerous when in possession of the ball, putting Melrose under considerable pressure through the impressive pace of their backline. Currie eventually forced a penalty after 12 minutes which fly-half Jamie Forbes slotted through the posts.

Just over five minutes later Jason Baggott scored a penalty for Melrose from on front of the posts to increase their lead to 3-8.

With 15 minutes left of the first half Fraser Thomson gathered a kick from Currie and worked with winger Ross McCann to cross for a second Melrose try, Baggott missed the conversion to take the score to 3-13.

Currie responded immediately scoring two tries before the break through full-back Harvey Elms and captain Ross Weston, Jamie Forbes added both conversions to snatch a half-time lead, 17-13.

Melrose regained the lead after 47 minutes, following several bruising phases from the Melrose pack, the ball reached Nyle Godsmark who ran over the line, Craig Jackson secured the conversion to take the score to 17-20.

Currie were not discouraged and ran in a further try of their own through replacement Jarrod Firth to once again take back control of the game, 24-20.

At 67 minutes Ruaridh Knott ran in the bonus-point try for Melrose and with Jackson adding the conversion, secured a narrow 24-27 lead.

Both teams continued to challenge for the line but there were to be no further points granting Melrose the win and leaving Currie with a consolation losing bonus-point.

Melrose Head Coach Rob Chrystie said: “It was a really tough game with very high standards, it wasn’t fast-flowing open rugby but there were some big collisions and defensively I think we were really good.

"At times there were a few silly penalties but on the whole the defensive effort was good.

“The boys showed a lot of guts and desire and when you blend that with the ability they can play with, it’s excellent.

“It was nice to show that we can come away to a place like this, which is a really tough place to win and put in a performance like we just have.”

Melrose next face Gala at The Greenyards on Saturday in what promises to be a lively Borders derby as both teams face stiff competition at different ends of the Premiership table.

Melrose: Fraser Thomson, Austin Lockington, Nyle Godsmark, George Taylor, Ross McCann, Craig Jackson, Jason Baggott, Jamie Bhatti, Russell Anderson, Nick Beavon, James Head, Ruaridh Knott, Neil Irvine-Hess, Grant Runciman, Iain Moody Substitutes: Cammy McKay, Ruari McLeod, Ali Greve, Struan Hutchison, Sam Pecqueur