Simon Cross enraged as Edinburgh Accies miss chance to win

EDINBURGH ACCIES coach Simon Cross was left fuming after his side passed up their latest chance of a win in the RBS Premiership.

Tries by Greg Campbell and Mike Campbell, the first of which was converted by Ruaridh Bonner, handed the Raeburn Place men a 12-8 lead entering the final quarter of their match at home to Melrose.

But the Borderers raised the pace in the closing stages and tries from Grant Runciman and Fraser Thomson, allied to Nick McGrath’s earlier score, saw them chalk up a 22-12 victory that leaves Accies winless after four tight fixtures.

Cross, who has been frustrated by his side’s inability to cross the finishing line, made his anger clear. “The second-half display was unacceptable. Guys were doing crazy things at key times.”

• In the RBS National League, Watsonians extended their winning run to three matches with a 44-27 win over Hawick at Myreside, but Stewart’s Melville suffered another agonising loss, going down 22-21 at Biggar. Having conceded a vital try in the dying minutes against ’Sonians the previous week, there was an even more painful outcome for Stew-Mel this time when Biggar’s Craig Russell snatched victory with the final play of the match.

• Musselburgh were toppled from top spot in RBS Championship League B, despite extending their unbeaten run to four matches with a 30-7 win away to Kirkcaldy. ’Burgh skipper James Doig followed up his four-try haul the previous week with another touchdown, and he was joined on the score sheet by Craig Veitch and Matt Brierley, while Dave O’Hagan contributed 15 points with the boot.

But the Stoneyhill men were overtaken at the top after Howe of Fife – the only other unbeaten side in the division – posted a big win. The leading duo will clash at Stoneyhill on Saturday.

• Murrayfield Wanderers rediscovered the winning feeling when they squeezed past Haddington 21-18. Two converted tries from Alex Godsmark and another from Euan Higgins were enough to see Wanderers home against the East Lothian men, who had tries by Dan Barber and Gary Cockburn, plus eight points from Nick Bell’s boot to thank for their narrow defeat bonus point.

• Lasswade suffered a second successive loss when they succumbed 22-12 away to Hawick YM. The Midlothian outfit trailed 15-0 at the break and, despite Jamie Blackwood and Kyle Smith touching down for a try apiece, they were undone by the well-drilled hosts.