Melrose 19 - 13 Stirling County: Melrose on track for title

MELROSE took a major step to retaining the league title as the Scottish champions came back to ease out a gutsy Stirling side in an untidy game at the Greenyards, writes Atholl Innes.

Two tries in the final eight minutes, the second by Allan Dodds when he charged down a Brian Archibald kick, proved decisive to leave Stirling with only a losing bonus point.

It was a messy game punctuated by a series of penalties and Melrose were often denied by the gritty defensive visitors.

Stirling threatened early with the gale advantage and skipper Alex Moffat seemed to have crossed the line for a try, but the English referee, Karl Kirkpatrick, some of whose decisions bewildered the players, said that the hooker had been held up.

But they were not to be denied and Steven Swindall powered over when he found himself in acres of space. Just before the interval, Brian Archibald banged over a penalty for an 8-5 interval lead after Fraser Thomson had levelled the scores.

Stirling looked headed for a famous win after Danny Gilmour crashed over until Runciman and Allan Dodds secured the win aided by two Andrew Skeen penalties.