RBS Premiership Rugby: Melrose 29 - 35 Stirling County

Published on 28/10/2012 00:00

A hat-trick of tries by Scotland Sevens cap Rory Hughes helped Stirling County to a deserved win over RBS Premiership title holders Melrose in a high-scoring match, writes Alan Lorimer at the Greenyards.

Both sides had been involved in British and Irish Cup competition but it was Stirling who looked to have benefited more from the competition, posting a more aggressive performance up front and complementing this with a skilful display in defence behind the scrum.

Aside from Hughes, pictured, Stirling scrum-half Sean Kennedy was also outstanding, his workrate, vision and skilful play underlining the point that he should be playing regularly at professional level.

Melrose can only rue allowing Stirling to build up a half-time lead of 28-3 from tries by Kennedy, Hughes (2) and centre Danny Gilmour, all converted by Brian Archibald, to a penalty by Andrew Skeen, from poor ball management and bad decision making at crucial moments.

Tries by John Dalziel and Junior Kalamafoni and a conversion, by Skeen , on either side of a third converted score for Hughes, signalled a Melrose revival, and when replacement Wayne Mitchell and prop Nicky Little added tries from close range, both converted by Skeen, it seemed the home side were on track for a sensational win. It was not to be but Melrose at least salvaged two bonus points.