Melrose v Musselburgh 29/3/2025
Melrose v Musselburgh – 29/3/25
The final Arnold Clark Men’s Premiership match of season 2024/25, for both teams, was played on a dull, cold and very windy afternoon. Melrose kicked off into the wind, but Musselburgh were unable to take advantage with a couple of kicks out of defence progressing beyond the Melrose dead-ball line giving Melrose the advantage of scrums back in the visitors 22. From the second of these, at 8 minutes, Douglas Crawford dummied and then ran 22 metres to the left of the posts for an unconverted try, then, three minutes later, he took a quick tap penalty passing to Bruce Colvine whose try between the posts was converted by Keiran Clark. With another three minutes played Melrose broke up the far side with Connor Spence squeezing into the Policeman’s Corner for an unconverted try. At 18 minutes Harri Morris was sent to the sin-bin for completing a series of illegal Melrose defensive misdemeanours close to their own line. Ross Brown tapped and went quickly under the posts for a try which Bruce Weatherhead converted. At 29 minutes a brawl developed with Mac Rutherford and Euan Bonthron being held responsible and both being sent to the sin-bin. With eight minutes until the break a great series of plays was observed with Evan Davies scoring the Melrose bonus point try which Clark converted.
Half time – Melrose 24 Musselburgh 7
Two minutes into the second half Spence nipped into St. Mary’s Corner for an unconverted try, then, at 50 minutes, Douglas Crawford broke from a scrum on the Musselburgh 22 off-loading to David Crawford who scored and Clark converted. Four minutes later Morris completed a penalty lineout rolling maul in the Church Corner with a try converted by Clark. From a quickly taken tap penalty, at the start of the final quarter, Sandy Watt scored from close range with Peter Burns adding the extras. Two minutes later a sweeping Melrose passing move ended with Morris scoring in St. Mary’s Corner followed by an excellent Clark conversion from the touch-line to bring up the Melrose half-century. At 68 minutes Charlie McLean nipped in for a try converted by Weatherhead, then, at 70 & 72 minutes, Angus Weir and Ben White were sent to the bin for offences close to the Melrose line. From the second of these Bonthron took a quick tap penalty and drove over for the Musselburgh bonus point try which Weatherhead converted. A good victory to end the season, but four yellow cards, equivalent to half of the match with a reduced team, represents unacceptable ill-discipline which should be addressed before next season’s 10 team league.
Melrose 50 Musselburgh 28
Melrose – Morgan Gabe, Connor Spence, Declan Mulcahy, Evan Davies, Keiran Clark, Roly Brett, Douglas Crawford, Jack Dobie, Harri Morris, Zen Szwagrzak, Mac Rutherford, Angus Runciman©, Ben White, Bruce Colvine, Will Ferrie. Replacements – Angus Weir, Logan Kirk, Andrew Kirk, David Crawford, Luke Townsend, Cammy Robertson, Hamish Weir.
Musselburgh – Peter Burns, Murray McCowan, Rory Smith, Rory Watt©, Sandy Watt, Bruce Weatherhead, Jack Rule, Euan Bonthron, Robert Stott, Harry Meadows, Jack Haynes, Ross Brown, Joss Arnold, Jason Talac, James Longwell. Replacements – Zac Griffiths, Mitchell Thomas, Charlie McLean, Finlay Craig, Struan Talac, Lucas Brook, Ollie Craig.
Referee – Chelsea Gillespie. Assistants – Alex Oberja & Digby Thomas.