Boroughmuir 32 - 26 Melrose

BOROUGHMUIR secured five vital league points when they saw off Melrose in an entertaining encounter to move closer to securing their survival.

The hosts took the lead after three minutes when Shaun McMurchy appeared on the right wing to take a scoring pass. However, despite enjoying most of the possession, they had to wait more than 20 minutes before Euan Matheson spun out of a tackle to send Jamie Doubleday over.

Melrose battled back and Grant Runciman pounced on a loose tap-down at a lineout and powered over for a fine opportunist score. And the Borderers grabbed a second when the ball was slung along the line to Ben Allen. Scott Wight's conversion gave the visitors a 12-10 interval lead.

Muir restarted well and Justin Va'a thundered in for a try, converted by Graham Blackhall, to swing the game back in his side's favour, then James Fish bagged the bonus point score and the hosts moved further ahead on the hour when Doubleday scored his second try and Blackhall converted.

Callum Anderson raced in for a converted score but Blackhall responded with a penalty before Jamie Murray claimed the bonus point try for Melrose.