Gala v Melrose
GALA 21 | MELROSE 34
SATURDAY 13TH JANUARY 2024
📷 Andy Mclean
Saturday’s rearranged National 1 fixture was preceded by a Minute’s Silence for previous Melrose stalwarts Bert Blacklock, Marshall Fairbairn and Robbie “Bubba” Robinson who had died recently. The match was played on a bright, cold and dry afternoon with the floodlights required for the second half. After 10 minutes play Melrose, from a lineout on the Gala 22 on the right, put in a fine passing move ending with Ben McLean, backing up as a good hooker should, crossing into the left corner for the opening try converted by Struan Hutchison. Four minutes later Matty Bertram ended a series of plays by muscling into the opposite corner for a try with Hutchison, again, converting. After a further four minutes Craig Keddie completed a series of picks and drives for the opening Gala try which Russell Kerr converted. From a penalty lineout on the right, at 26 minutes, the ball was passed in-field with Craig Fairbairn scoring to the right of the posts and Hutchison’s conversion kick hit an upright and stayed out. With two minutes until the break Hutchison was sent to the naughty step for disputing a referee’s decision.
Half time – Gala 7 Melrose 19
📷 Andy Mclean
The Melrose bonus point try came at 44 minutes following some great passing interplay starting and finishing with Connor Spence scoring at the posts with Douglas Crawford adding the extras. At 58 minutes Will Owen irritated the referee and was invited to take a ten-minute seat in the sin-bin. From the resultant tap penalty on the Melrose 22 a series of plays developed and Callum Pate scored and Kerr converted. Four minutes later Hutchison increased the Melrose lead to fifteen points by kicking a penalty. On 72 minutes Elliot Ruthven made a fantastic break between the two 22m lines before being tackled. A series of plays developed resulting with Seb van der Sluis crashing over for an unconverted try. Following a penalty lineout, at 76 minutes, Gala put in a prolonged series of picks and drives before, eventually, thwarting stout Melrose defence with Gregor Mein scrambling over for the touch-down which Kerr converted.
This victory, the first for Melrose at Netherdale since 2018, was a fine send-off for Guerschom Mukendi who was playing his last game for Melrose before returning home to Canada. We thank him for his efforts in the front row and wish him well for the future.
Gala 21 Melrose 34
Gala – Russell Kerr, Ben Simmonds, Callum Pate, Daniel Nicholson, BEN Gill, Gregor Mein, Eddie Eyre, Michael Angus, Jack Easson, Glenn Brough, Glenn McCrum, Cameron Pate, Angus Dun©, Liam Scott, Craig Keddie. Replacements – Richie Tod, Kye Scott, Daniel Kerr, Lachlan Jonston, Jack Niven.
Melrose – Donald Crawford, Matty Bertram, Connor Spence, Roly Brett, Bruce Colvine, Struan Hutchison, Douglas Crawford, Will Owen, Ben McLean, Guerschom Mukendi, Thomas Brown, Angus Runciman©, Craig Fairbairn, Will Ferrie, Ruairidh Lindsay. Replacements – Sandy Fairbairn, Andrew Kirk, Seb van der Sluis, Elliot Ruthven, Keiran Clark.
SCORERS
