Melrose 39 - 33 Dundee HSFP: Brave Dundee fail to catch runaway 'Rose

BOTH coaches agreed that it had been a fantastic game, a superb advert for summer rugby on a sunny, warm afternoon - but Melrose's Craig Chalmers admitted that not to play at the top of their game and still take maximum points was the most satisfying part of the day's events.

Dundee coach Ian Rankin bemoaned the loss of two 'gift' tries in the first half and added: "We got just two points for a magnificent effort, which showed that the boys can 'front up' and I was proud of the players' commitment and intensity." Yet Dundee still chase that elusive first win.

Melrose almost conceded a 31-7 interval lead, and it was left to winger, Alan Dodds, to make the game safe with his second score 14 minutes from the end. For Chalmers, it was relief; for Rankin frustration after Dundee had clawed their way back to within a point of their opponents with a quarter to play.

The balance of the game hung on three Melrose tries in a dramatic seven-minute spell before half-time from a Grant Runciman double and an interception score by Callum Anderson.

Dundee, who had the benefit of Glasgow Warriors' Peter Horne and James Fleming, scored first through Fleming, who added a second to scores by Horne, Harry Duthie and Alan Brown. And it was a credit to referee J. Van der Merwe that he did not issue any yellow cards.

Scorers: Melrose: Tries: Runciman (2), A. Dodds (2), Anderson. Cons: Wight (4). Pens: Wight (2). Dundee HSFP: Tries: Fleming (2), Horne, Duthie, Brown. Cons: Horne (4).

Melrose: F. Thomson; C. Anderson, B. Allen, E. Ford, A. Dodds; S. Wight, S. McCormick; N. Little, W. Mitchell, G. Holborn, R. Miller, G. Elder, J. Dalziel, B. Runciman, G. Dodds. Subs: G. Innes, K. Cooney, H. Mitchell, R. Chrystie, C. Jackson.

Dundee HSFP: P. Murchie; M. Smith, H. Duthie, P. Horne, J. Fleming; A. O'Connor, A. Dymock; N. Dymock, S. Forrest, A. Brown, A. Linton, R. Hawkins, C. Cumming, R. Gray, D. Levison. Subs: C. Kerr, D. Russell, R. Milne, R. Cessford, A. Hay.

Referee: J. Van der Merwe.