Melrose v Ayr 15/2/25

Melrose v Ayr – 15/2/25

League leaders Ayr were the visitors to The Greenyards for this Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership match, played on a cold and dull afternoon with the floodlights illuminated from the start. From the kick-off the visitors gained the ball on the left spreading it right, via Robbie Orr, to Jamie Shedden whose unconverted try was scored in St. Mary’s Corner with only 35 seconds on the clock. Melrose replied with a Luke Townsend penalty at 5 minutes, then, ten minutes later Morgan Gabe got on the end of a chip ahead by Elliot Ruthven up the stand side and scored a try in the Town Corner with Townsend kicking the conversion for Melrose to take the lead which they held, unfortunately, for only two minutes as a pass left by Fergus Johnston sent Tom Lanni into the Church Corner with Chris Hyde’s conversion returning the lead to the visitors. At 23 minutes, from a penalty lineout rolling maul on the right, Alex McGuire collected the touch down and Hyde the conversion. The Ayr bonus point try came seven minutes later when, after another penalty lineout rolling maul, a series of plays developed and, with a penalty advantage being played, Blair Macpherson grabbed the ball and scored between the posts with Hyde converting. Four minutes short of the break the ball squirted out the side of a ruck on the Melrose 22 with Rory Jackson picking it up and strolling over for an unconverted try in St. Mary’s Corner.

Half time – Melrose 10 Ayr 31

Nine minutes into the second half, from a penalty lineout rolling maul in the Town Corner, McGuire scored and Hyde converted. From the kick off a high Ayr kick out of defence was collected by Gabe on halfway before he raced in the direction of the Ayr line. After he kicked ahead on the Ayr 22 he was obstructed by Johnston, but the ball was picked up by Angus Weir who scored an unconverted try in the Church Corner. At 68 minutes fine passing by Ayr, up the stand side, ended with Lanni scoring in the Town Corner with Hyde converting, then, four minutes from no-side, Lanni completed his hat-trick in similar fashion, followed by Hyde’s sixth conversion.

Melrose 15 Ayr 52

“Scotmin” Melrose “Man of the Match” – Morgan Gabe.

Morgan Gabe in action against Ayr

Melrose – Hamish Weir, Morgan Gabe, Corey Goldsbrough, Roly Brett, Declan Mulcahy, Luke Townsend, Bruce Colvine, Jack Dobie, Logan Kirk, Andrew Kirk, Angus Weir, Angus Common, Jack Wilks, Elliot Ruthven, Ruairidh Lindsay. Replacements – Andrew Ceballos, Will Ferrie, Mac Rutherford, Craig Fairbairn, Struan Hutchison, Keiran Clark, Robin Sharp.

Ayr – Chris Hyde, Tom Lanni, Jamie Shedden, Robbie Orr, Luca Bardelli, Robert Beattie, Fergus Johnston, Caleb Rae, Alex McGuire, Rhodri Tanner, Oscar Baird, Rory Jackson, Ryan Sweeney, Tim Brown, Blair Macpherson. Replacements – James Malcolm, Jammie Drummond, Calvin Henderson, Lewis McNamara, Seth Rae, Adam McGowan, Andrew Stirrat.

Referee – Rob McDowell. Assistants – Lee McWhinnie & Kevin McGhee.