Melrose v Glasgow Hawks

Melrose v Glasgow Hawks – 25/1/25

Saturday’s Arnold Clark Premiership match was played on a bright and cold afternoon with the floodlights illuminated at half time. Following yesterday’s Storm Eowyn, which damaged the scoreboard, the game was played with, only, a gentle breeze. Two minutes into the match Allan Ferrie broke up-field to score to the left of the posts with Luke Townsend converting. The Hawks response was almost immediate with a series of plays in the Melrose 22 before Ryan Howie crossed in the Town Corner with Liam Brims converting. At 12 minutes Melrose won a penalty lineout on the right with the threequarters taking the ball left to Allan Ferrie who charged towards the line before off-loading to Evan Davies whose score to the left of the posts allowed Townsend to add the extras. With 23 minutes played Hawks had a series of plays ending with Ryan Flett scoring to the left of the posts with Brims converting to level the scores for the second time. On the half hour Townsend was wide with a penalty, but, at 32 & 38 minutes, Brims kicked two penalties to give the visitors a six-point lead at the break.

Half time – Melrose 14 Glasgow Hawks 20.

Two minutes into the second half Ruairidh Lindsay charged up the pitch and, when caught, a series of plays developed before the ball was shipped to Morgan Gabe whose try was converted by Townsend. Just after the re-start Hamish Weir was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on and, whilst he was off, James Couper had a clear run to the Church Corner for an unconverted try. The Melrose bonus point try came at 62 minutes. Corey Goldsbrough ran out of defence giving Jack Dobie the chance to complete the move before being stopped. Re-cycled ball then ended with Allan Ferrie whose second try was unconverted. Melrose, now, had a single point lead until Brims kicked a penalty five minutes later. At 70 minutes Couper prevented Melrose scoring a definite try with a high tackle allowing Melrose to be awarded a penalty try and Couper a seat on the naughty step for ten minutes. With five minutes remaining Melrose stole the ball at a lineout close to their line, but the ball went loose over the line and Scott Steele was the quickest to react and scored, but Brims, uncharacteristically, missed with this conversion attempt and the scores remained level. But the drama continued. With the last play of the game Melrose were awarded a penalty five metres inside their own half. Keiran Clark stepped up to the plate, but his long-range penalty attempt dropped agonisingly short of the posts – honours even. Our apologies to those spectators who, despite frequent announcements, relied on the, hopefully temporarily, defunct scoreboard. We hope to have it repaired soon.

Melrose 33 Glasgow Hawks 33

Eclectic Coffee Roasters Melrose “Man of the Match” – Allan Ferrie

Melrose – Morgan Gabe, Hamish Weir, Declan Mulcahy, Evan Davies, Corey Goldsbrough, Luke Townsend, Scott Clark, Will Owen, Logan Kirk, Zen Szwagrzak, Angus Weir, Angus Runciman©, Elliot Ruthven, Allan Ferrie, Ruairidh Lindsay. Replacements – Ben McLean, Jack Dobie, Craig Fairbairn, Angus Common, Will Ferrie, Douglas Crawford, Keiran Clark.

Glasgow Hawks – Euan Muirhead, Ben Morris, Finlay Callaghan, Chris Elliot, Ryan Flett, Liam Brims(cc), Scott Steele, Isaiah Malaulau, Paul Cairncross(cc), Callum Norrie, Max Crumlish, Murray Oliver, Andrew Syme, Ryan Howie, Lewis Stewart. Replacements – Kyle Shanahan, Andrew Rutherford, Craig Nolan, Yousef Shaneen, Gavin Cruickshanks, Harry Provan, James Couper.

Referee – Steven Turnbull. Assistants – Paul Rendle & Bob Nevins.