Melrose 34

Hawick 7

Eilidh Walker at The Greenayrds

MELROSE secured a bonus-point win in the borders derby at the Greenyards on Saturday, condemning Hawick to a relegation play-off and a fight for Premiership survival.

The home came into the match having secured a home play-off at the other end of the table but wishing to improve after a shaky win at Heriot’s last week.

Melrose had a strong start to the game and centre George Taylor and winger Austin Lockington showed early intent but it was Jason Baggott who got the day’s scoring underway when he secured a penalty after just five minutes of play.

Ruaridh Knott bounced back from injury last week to score the opening try of the game just five minutes later to increase the hosts lead to 8-0, with Baggott missing the penalty.

Hawick suffered several serious injuries and Grant Huggan was the first casualty, leaving the field only 11 minutes into the game, closely followed by prop Shawn Muir who was stretchered from the field.

After a long stoppage in play due to various injuries, Hawick looked to have the edge in the scrum but it was Melrose who found themselves pushing for the line. Aaron Welsh who was a last minute addition to last week’s starting XV at Goldenacre showed why he has kept his starting place as he gained valuable ground before sending Iain Moody over for the try. Baggott added the conversion, 15-0.

Fraser Thomson gathered from the restart and while the ball looked to have been lost forward, George Taylor capitalised on a slow response from the Hawick defence to run in a try from outwith the Hawick 22, Baggott converted to take the score to 22-0.

Hawick centre Rory Hutton made one of the most promising breaks for the visitors and sprinted for the line, almost making it through the Melrose defence but was caught just short of the line as Hawick were penalised by referee Mike Adamson for crossing.

With minutes left of the first-half Moody collected from a lineout and sent Thomson over, to secure the bonus point for Melrose. Baggott missed the conversion to take the half-time score to 27-0.

Hawick also lost Kevin Bryce and Lee Armstrong at the end of the first-half and with just one minute played of the second-half Captain Bruce McNeil was yellow carded.

Melrose were unable to use their numerical advantage to further their lead but Hawick were dealt a further blow when Rory Hutton was also sent to the bin for an illegal tackle.

At 61 minutes, just as McNeil was returning for Hawick, Melrose also lost replacement Callum Crookshanks to the sin bin.

Just minutes later, with both sides reduced to 14, Hawick battled through several phases to send fly-half Ali Weir across for a consolation try, Weir converted his own try to take the score to 27-7.

Baggott added a further try for Melrose and which he duly converted himself to take the score to 34-7.

Before both sides face their respective play-off matches, Melrose will face Stirling County at Bridgehaugh on March 11 to complete their premiership games, where a win could see them top the premiership table.

Melrose: Fraser Thomson, Austin Lockington, Nyle Godsmark, George Taylor, Sam Pecqueur, Jason Baggott, Bruce Colvine, Iain Moody, Grant Runciman, Ruaridh Knott, Aaron Welsh, Anton Bresler, Ruari Mcleod, Russell Anderson, Dan Elkington Replacements: Cammie MacKay, Callum Crookshanks, Ali Grieve, Murdo McAndrew, David Colvine

Hawick: Lee Armstrong, Kirk Ford, Rory Hutton, Grant Huggan, Gary Johnstone, Ali Weir, Bruce Campbell, Shawn Muir, Callum Macintosh, Kevin Bryce, Keith McNeil, David Lowrie, Ross Gibson, Stuart Graham, Bruce McNeil Replacements: Gary Douglas, Matthew Landels, Keith Davis, Wesley Hamilton, Kyle Brunton