Rugby: Donaldson sure tweaks will be recipe for Currie suceess

Currie coach Ally Donaldson believes that minor adjustments over the coming days will enable the Premiership champions to shrug off the disappointment of an opening day defeat and rediscover the winning habit.

Currie had to settle for two bonus points from their trip to face Melrose at the Greenyards where the sides served up a stirring encounter which the hosts won 32-29. Donaldson pinpointed an incident in the first half as the turning point in the game - the visitors led 10-3 and were applying pressure when Melrose gained possession and raced clear to score a try that ultimately proved decisive.

Matt Scott, Jamie Thompson, Andy McMahon and Mike Entwhistle all touched down for Currie, whose other points were contributed by new arrival Hayden Abercrombie in a contest that ebbed and flowed and offered a glimpse of how competitive the title race promises to be.

"We had enough chances to win," admitted Donaldson. "It's disappointing but not a disaster. There are a few areas we need to tighten up on but hopefully we can do that this week and get the show back on the road on Saturday."

Meanwhile, Boroughmuir travelled to face Selkirk in a repeat of last season's first day fixture with five new faces in the side and three more players who have returned to the club from the professional ranks. And they replicated the result, albeit in more impressive fashion, bagging all five league points with a six try haul that yielded a 34-12 success.

Neil Roger marked his league debut with the first of the his side's touchdowns before being joined on the score sheet by Greig Scott and Jamie Doubleday, with a conversion by Ally Warnock sending 'Muir into the break with a 17-12 advantage.

Doubleday went over for the bonus point try early in the second half and the Meggetland men applied the gloss with further scores from Ross Samson and Stevie Wilson.

In Division Two, Simon Cross took charge of Edinburgh Accies for the first time in a competitive environment. And, it was a fruitful afternoon for the former Edinburgh pro as Accies battled back after trailing Aberdeen Grammar 11-7 at the interval.

Mike Campbell, Paul Loudon and Josh Pecqueur scored a try apiece as the Raeburn Place men launched their bid for an instant return to the top flight with a 24-16 win. Newcomer Stuart Evans marked his Accies debut by adding all three conversions and booting a penalty.

Another side hoping to challenge for promotion is Stewart's Melville. The Inverleith men travelled to face newly promoted Falkirk but their hopes of delivering a winning start for new coach Bruce Macnaughton were dashed as they succumbed 37-35 in a tense encounter.

Trailing 22-18 at half time, the visitors battled throughout the second period before eventually being forced to settle for a narrow defeat bonus point. StewMel had tries by Richard Borthwick and Alex Godsmark, plus a string of kicks by Stuart Ker, who contributed 25 points from seven penalties and two conversions.