Glasgow Hawks 13 - 23 Melrose: Melrose's title to lose say Hawks

The top-two sides went at one another hammer and tongs but it was the visitors who enjoyed an edge in the forward exchanges and especially at the breakdown. Wily old heads like John Dalziel and young whippersnappers like Grant Runciman combined to make a potent mix that was too hot for Hawks to handle, especially with Scott Wight's boot putting the Borderers in the right area of the field. Still they were probably not the most influential people involved in this match.

Referee Neil Paterson had a pretty good game all told but with three yellow cards and one red this match highlighted once again the influence the man in the middle can have on events. Rugby now has so many laws that referees can't hope to apply them all, they simply apply the most meaningful ones at any given time and that is why there is such heated debate after almost every Test match.

Dalziel was first to the sin bin for cheating at the breakdown late in the first half and he was followed very shortly afterwards by Hawks' centre David Milne. So, when Dalziel went high on winger Robbie Hair 15 minutes into the second half, the referee had no choice but to reach for the red card and Melrose duly played out the last 25 minutes with 14 men.

It didn't seem to bother them unduly. Apart from conceding one pushover penalty try they kept their slate clean and managed two shorthanded penalties themselves although their cause was helped when McKay sat out ten minutes of the last quarter after diving over a breakdown. There was no argument about the third and final yellow card of the match but Hawks might just have sneaked a draw with a full complement on the field.

As it was tries either side of half-time from Joe Help and Graham Innes in addition to three penalties from Scott Wight, who missed three others, were enough so see Melrose home, and their coach Craig Chalmers was understandably delighted at the result if a little hoarse after barking instructions from the sidelines.

"The boys will have a good time tonight and they will have deserved it after that performance," beamed the former Scotland fly-half. "That took a huge effort. As a club we've been there or thereabouts for the last few seasons, three cup finals and one win, but obviously it's been 14 years since we've won the league. A club like Melrose is always aiming to be at the top but you don't always manage it.

"In the past our defence has definitely let us down but not today. We seem to come good late in the season when the grounds turn hard because that suits our style of play. We came here to play rugby and we did just that."When asked whether Melrose's recent outings in the British and Irish Cup had helped them cope with the intensity and physicality of the game, Chalmers was in no doubt.

"Definitely," he replied. "I worried a bit about picking up injuries in the game against Bristol because it was so physical but then Graham Dodds, who scored two tries against them and was outstanding, goes and gets injured in training on Thursday! The cup experience certainly helped with physicality." After swatting aside Hawks' challenge without two of the big beasts in their pack, at least for that last 25 minutes, Melrose can look forward to playing their two league games at the Greenyards with quiet confidence.

Hawks: C Shaw; C Gossman, D Kelbrick, D Milne, R Hair; M Adamson, K Hamilton; A Smith, E Milligan, G Strain, R Miller, N Campbell, R McKay, B Karalus, G Strang. Subs: S Cameron, N Nyemba, R Hamilton, T Preece, P Jericevich.

Melrose: F Thomson; C Anderson, J Murray, J Helps, A Dodds; S Wight, R Chrystie; N Beavon, W Mitchell, G Holborn, G Elder, H Mitchell, J Dalziel, G Runciman, R Miller. Subs: G Innes, R Higgins, Johnston, S McCormick, C Jackson.