Melrose 45 - 23 Hawick: Cup bonus for Melrose

IF ANYONE still questions the value of the British and Irish Cup then Melrose showed its performance-improving effect on Scottish clubs yesterday at the Greenyards. Fed on a high-protein diet of four rounds of the competition and with their win over Nottingham last weekend an inspirational reminder, Melrose turned on a display of high-intensity rugby, running in seven tries against their Border rivals , Hawick, to maintain pole position in Premier A.

For Championship-chasing Melrose it is essential to win with a bonus point and this the Greenyards club achieved by half time, in part explaining why their intensity dropped slightly after the break, allowing Hawick to hit back with three tries.

It was certainly no less than the Greens deserved for their dynamic approach to the game but with their Premier One place assured for next season this was essentially a chance for Hawick to bring in different players, made essential by the departure of three regulars to Australia.

Melrose gave notice of their intent with an opening try by their high-scoring full back Fraser Thomson from a drive by flanker Dave Crawford and a slick pass by Jamie Murray. The try tally continued with a forward try credited to Gary Holborn and then, when Thomson used his pace to carve through the Hawick defence, Wight was on hand to take the scoring pass.

With confidence high, Melrose chalked up their bonus point just before the interval with a short-range score from hooker Wayne Mitchell, Wight adding his fourth conversion to give Melrose a 28-6 interval advantage, Hawick's points having come from two penalty goals by Graham Hogg.

Having missed several first opportunities in the first half Hawick quickly atoned with an early second half score from Gary Johnstone. But quick replies from Thomson and Callum Anderson reasserted the Melrose dominance before veteran Colin Murray sold an outrageous dummy to sail in for a try. Then, in a final flurry of scoring, Callum Anderson showed his pace for a second try but the final word went to Hawick as Rory Hutton set up a try for David Lowrie.

Scorers: Melrose: Tries: Thomson (2), Holborn, Wight, Mitchell, Anderson (2). Cons: Wight (5). Hawick: Tries: Johnstone, Murray, Lowrie. Con: Hogg.

Pens: Hogg (2)

Melrose: F Thomson; C Anderson, J Murray, J Helps, B Allen; S Wight, R Chrystie; N Little, W Mitchell, G Holborn, G Elder, R Miller, J Dalziel, D Crawford, G Dodds Subs used G Innes, N Beavon, S Johnson, S McCormick, C Hardie.

Hawick: C Murray; G Anderson, R Hutton, G Johnstone, S Anderson; G Hogg, G Cottrell; R Sutherland, L Gibson, S Linton, K Wilson, M Robertson, D Lowrie, N McTaggart, B McNeill Subs used N Douglas, R Kiore, R Hogg, G Petrie, M Landels.

Referee: G Knox. x

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