Nottingham 29 - 31 Melrose: Lucky 13 typifies Melrose spirit in fine victory over Nottingham

It was the club's best result in the competition, with Scott Wight leading by example with four penalties and two conversions.

In a remarkable game at Meadow Lane, Melrose found themselves handed no fewer than three yellow cards.

Yet, when reduced to 13 men, they still managed to score a try.

"It was a tremendous effort of passion and commitment I could not praise the players enough," said coach Craig Chalmers.

"I hope that we can now carry that on for the rest of the season. To come here and get a result like that is fantastic." Not for the first time, too, Melrose found themselves with just one pro, Dave McCall, who was released by Glasgow, while the players had the opportunity to play on the football track at Notts County's ground.

"We are learning every week and now we want to get the small detail right," said Chalmers, who will be hoping that his players will have done enough ahead of the crunch clash with Hawick this weekend.

They did that, and Melrose showed a lot of promise against a powerful Nottingham side, most of whose players had also played with the first XV.

The clubs had met just twice in the past, with Melrose losing in both 1980 and 1982 - and the task was obvious from the start as only Charlie Armstrong and Jack Bradford were making their debuts. Melrose were able to break their luck at the third time of asking.

Melrose had an early escape, as Nottingham put a penalty wide, and then Dave Marshall dropped the ball over the line. Referee Rhys Thomas spoke to Scott Wight, with Melrose under pressure even on their own scrummage.

However, Melrose weathered the storm. Fraser Thomson's 30-metre break allowed Wight to the kick to the corner and McCall won the race for the touchdown.

Wight missed the difficult conversion, but then kicked a penalty to stretch the lead.

Nottingham added aggression to their game and, on the half-hour, Stuart Philpott found space in the right-hand corner to score. However, Melrose had found their feet and Wight added his second penalty.

Nottingham were strong with ball in hand, and Melrose were reduced to 14 men when John Dalziel was sinbinned to be followed by Graeme Dodds. The 13-men were unable to hold back their opponents and Philpott scored his second try.Melrose pulled all their strongest strategies when with 13 men, and Thomson was on hand on the right for his club's second try and Wight converted.

On the stroke of half-time, Wayne Mitchell became the third Melrose player to be sinbinned, but the Scots turned round 18-10 ahead.

At the start of the second half, Neil Fowkes was yellow carded and Wight added the penalty and the split the posts from halfway before he converted Dalziel's try.

Phil Eggleshaw's try gave Nottingham hope with 22 minutes left and, with the Melrose defence under severe pressure, Cesar Sempere was denied by a double-movement.

Sam Wood added the bonus-point try and Sempere converted to set up a sterling finish with Neil Foulkes scoring - but Melrose held on and deservedly so.

Scorers: Nottingham Tries: Philpott (2), Eggleshaw, Woods, Foulkes. Con, Sempere (2)

Melrose: Tries: McCall, Thomson, Dalziel. Cons: Wight (2); Pens Wight (4)

Nottingham: C. Sempere; S Wood, S Hamilton, J Sifa, D Blake; D Marshall, F Barnham; T French, S Philpott, B Buxton, L Mather, N Carter, P Eggleshaw, A Shaw, B Baird. Subs: T Usasz, J Bradford, J Barnard, N Fowkes, J Stevens, M Todd, C Armstrong

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

Referee: R Thomas