Melrose v Edinburgh Accies 9/11/24

Melrose v Edinburgh Accies – 9/11/24

Preceded by a “Minutes Silence” for Armistice Day, and recognition of Bruce Colvine’s 250th appearance for the Melrose 1st XV, this Round 10 Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership match was played in dull conditions with the Greenyards floodlights illuminated. Five minutes into the match the visitors advanced down the stand side before Richard Thomson received the ball on half-way and progressed well into the Melrose 22. The ball was recycled left to Jamie Loomis who scored an unconverted try in the Church Corner. Loomis was wide with a penalty three minutes later, but Struan Hutchison was successful with a similar award at twenty minutes to put Melrose on the scoresheet. Three minutes later Melrose won a penalty lineout rolling maul in the Town Corner then spread the ball wide to the right allowing Morgan Gabe to nip into the Policeman’s Corner for a try converted by Hutchison. Five minutes short of the break Hutchison ended the first half scoring with his second penalty.

Half time – Melrose 13 Edinburgh Accies 5

Accies were guilty of a crossing obstruction at the second half kick-off and Hutchison obliged with a further three points. Eight minutes later Melrose spread the ball left to Declan Mulcahy who scored in the Church Corner with Hutchison adding the extras. Accies replied five minutes later when, after a series of picks and drives, Ted Jones claimed the touch-down with Connor Allan converting. From a penalty lineout rolling maul, at the start of the final quarter, Ruairidh Lindsay scrambled over in the Church Corner with Hutchison completing the Melrose tally with the conversion. At 68 minutes Ben McLean was sent to the sin-bin and before he returned to the play Nathan Brown nipped in for Accies final try which Patrick Ritchie converted. Then, just on no-side, Hamish Weir was sent to the naughty step.

Melrose 30 Edinburgh Accies 19

Melrose – Morgan Gabe, Corey Goldsbrough, Roly Brett, Struan Hutchison, Declan Mulcahy, Luke Townsend, Bruce Colvine, Jack Dobie, Logan Kirk, Zen Szwagrzak, Angus Weir, Angus Runciman©, Craig Fairbairn, Elliot Ruthven, Ruairidh Lindsay. Replacements - Ben McLean, Will Owen, Craig Greer, Hamish Weir, Dylan Cockburn, Douglas Crawford, Finlay Sinclair.

Edinburgh Accies – Robbie Kent, Gavin Welsh, Neil Armstrong, Connor Allan, Ethan McVicker, Jamie Loomis, Ben Grainger, Ross Dunbar, George Shannon, Calum Crookshanks, Richard Thomson, Struan Whittaker, Finlay Simpson, Edward Jones, Matt Walker. Replacements – Seb Stephen, Cole Imrie, Cameron Bain, Alistair Wood, Patrick Ritchie, Struan Wells, Nathan Brown.

Referee – Sam O’Neil. Assistants – Bob Nevins & Will Anderson.

Eclectic Coffee Roaster “Man of the Match” – Struan Hutchison.