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Boroughmuir returned to the field
where they bowed out of the Scottish Hydro Electric National
Cup two weeks ago in an attempt to end the season with a win
and claim 100 points. Unfortunately, it was not to be as
'Muir shorn of a posse of regular starters met a Melrose
team playing for places in next weeks Cup Quarter Final
against Hawick.
'Muir book ended the first half with
unconverted tries but in between Melrose claimed 15 points
to stay ahead at the break. Two weeks ago 'Muir were unable
to trouble the Melrose scorers but on this occasion, in
torrential rain, they came out of the blocks quickest and
claimed the opening try after just 3 minutes. After a
turnover in midfield Malcolm Clapperton made the initial
break sprinting down the left wing and chipping ahead. When
the ball came inside Angus Martyn was in support, as ever,
to claim his first try for several weeks. O'Donnell pushed
the conversion across the posts but 'Muir had the lead.
Two minutes later the game was halted as Cam
Ward and Nick Beavon fell out and swung their metaphorical
handbags at each other for some time. When tempers had been
calmed the referee gave both tight head props the
opportunity for quiet reflection on the sidelines for 10
minutes.
In the early exchanges 'Muir signalled their
intent by running quick penalties and looking to keep the
ball in hand. Unfortunately the weather was against them and
regular handling errors allowed Melrose back in to it. On
more than one occasion 'Muir had the chance to grab a second
try but the slippery ball proved too much to grasp and
possession was lost.
As the first quarter ended Scott Wight pulled
3 points back for Melrose after 'Muir were penalised for
coming in at the side of the ruck. As he had been two weeks
previously the tall stand-off was accurate with his boot
both from the spot kick and in playing the game behind the
Boroughmuir attack.
When Melrose won a scrum on half way, Ross
Miller picked and ran, making ground up to the 'Muir 22.
Quick ruck ball saw the ball back to Wight who put in a high
cross-field kick which found Mark Robertson for the winger
to score in the corner. Wight rubbed salt in 'Muir's wound
by converting from the touchline.
The winger repeated the try-scoring
performance on the half hour when Callum Anderson came off
his wing to burst through the midfield and throw a
suspiciously forward pass to Robertson to stretch the lead
to 15 - 5. Melrose were dominating at this time and when
Elgan O'Donnell was led off with a head wound Olly Brown was
moved from flanker to centre and Joni Hare took his place in
the pack. It looked as though 'Muir may fall in to disarray
and see Melrose run away with the game.
This 'Muir team are made of stern stuff,
however, and they refused to buckle easily. Angus Martyn
came close to setting up Ally Ness for a try but the big
lock was stopped just short of the line. The try came
however as the clock ticked down towards half-time when from
a scrum 5 Cam Ward grabbed the score. The first charge was
from Matheson and when he was stopped Ward managed to drive
over to bring the interval score to 15-10.
Melrose should have opened the second half
with a try when Jamie Murray pounced on a loose ball and
swung it out wide but 'Rose were unable to find the
composure they needed and knocked the ball on. This was the
pattern of the game at both ends - chances were created
but the conditions got the better of the things and neither
team got on the scoreboard in the third quarter. 'Muir were
striving every sinew to claw their way back in to the game,
certainly not accepting defeat easily, but Melrose were able
to withstand the onslaught and the game degraded to an
indecisive kicking contest.
As the quarter ended Angus Martyn almost
broke through but lost possession just short of the line
allowing full-back Jordan Macey to hack clear. As the
speedster crossed half way he looked as though he may make
it all the way until James White intervened and took him out
without the ball. The referee had no alternative but to give
the winger a 10 minute break.
Calum Cusiter was prompting 'Muir at every
opportunity, causing Melrose problems around the fringes but
while 'Muir were a man down Melrose pounced. Mark Robertson
ran a loop in midfield and passed wide for the the full-back
Macey to score on the right wing. Wight converted for a 12
point lead.
'Muir refused to accept that they would lose
and kept pounding at the Melrose defence for the remainder
of the game. with minutes left Olly Brown, now playing on
the right wing managed to inject some pace into the 'Muir
backline and the natural flacker drove over for 'Muir's
third try. The conversion was again missed and despite a
lung bursting interception run from Alan Sievewright they
could not find another way through and the referee called an
end to the season.
It may be said that Melrose are the best team
that 'Muir have faced this season although Watsonians may
wish to disagree with that. What is certain is that 'Muir
have won 20 out of 22 league games, scored 96 league points
and scored 94 league tries. The league was won back in
January and 'Muir have been indisputably the best team of
the season. Roll on 2008/09.
Boroughmuir: Alan Sievewright;
James White, Malcolm Clapperton, Elgan O'Donnell, Rob Cairns;
Greg Cottrell, Calum Cusiter; Freddie Lait, Davie Cunningham,
Cam Ward; Ally Ness, Pergus Pringle; Olly Brown, Euan
Matheson,
Angus Martyn. Subs Used Conor Costigan, Joni Hare, Stuart
McGee |
