Veterans success despite injuries

MELROSE lifted their own veterans title yesterday in an exciting precursor to this afternoon's main event.

Orkney, under the coaching hand of former Melrose player Bruce Ruthven, reached the final of a less serious event with players aged from late 30s to their 70s and their president John Hawgood played in their penultimate match at the age of 71.

Unfortunately, four players ended up in the Borders General Hospital with various head knocks, three clashing in the one tackle during the Edinburgh Accies and Madras College FP match. Melrose, with Doddie Weir, proved too strong for the field in the cup, however. Stuart Inglis, former Scotland winger Cammie Murray and Rob Forbes scored in the first half and Mark Bevan and Mike Ramage extended the advantage. Keith Oddie, former Aberdeen Grammar School stand-off, scored a late consolation try for Orkney.

Melrose: R Nisbet, S Ingles, I McCall, R Brown, E Weatherly, D Weir, C Thomson, G Hogg, C Wilson, C Murray, R Forbes, M Bevan, I Murray-John, R Barrie, M Ramage, M Smyth.

Orkney: G McLellan, K Oddie, R Spence, I Rushbrook, M Cursiter, B Linklater, P Miller, J Heal, S Spence, S Linklater, A Stanger, A Cant, K Garriock, D Leslie, J Roy-Nicholson, J Hawgood, G Scott.

Results: Cup Final: Melrose 29 Orkney 5. Bowl Final: Madras College FP 12 Morgan Academy 5. Plate Final: Glasgow Hawks 22 Millbrae 17 (aet).