Melrose v Peebles - Border League

Melrose v Peebles – 31/1/25

This Friday evening “under lights” match, for Border League points, was played in cold, dry and still conditions. Peebles came out with all guns blazing and, at 3 minutes, they won a lineout in the Melrose 22. A series of plays developed with Ross Brown scoring and Frey McIver converting. It took Melrose until 17 minutes to trouble the score-keeper when Will Ferrie crashed over, after a series of picks and drives, for a try converted by Luke Townsend. Seven minutes later, after breaking from the Peebles 22, Allan Ferrie scored to the left of the posts with Townsend converting. A series of plays passing from left to right, at 29 minutes, ended with Angus Weir scoring in St. Mary’s Corner with an excellent conversion by Townsend from the touch-line. With three minutes until the interval Elliot Ruthven, playing at outside centre this evening, made a break and scored to the left of the posts with Townsend adding the extras.

Half time – Melrose 28 Peebles 7

Peebles started the second half, as they started the first, with a try. A penalty lineout rolling maul, with six minutes played, saw Matty Carryer being driven over the line, in the Church Corner, with McIver converting well from the touch-line. The next score took until 61 minutes to put in an appearance. Melrose hashed and bashed their way up the park before Allan Ferrie scored with Scott Clark converting. At 69 minutes Hamish Weir collected a loose pass and raced into the Policeman’s Corner for an unconverted try, then, from the kick off, Allan Ferrie latched onto the ball and raced up-field before passing to James Barbour who scored an unconverted try in the Town Corner. Three minutes later Barbour was almost over again, but tripped over his feet just short of the line. However, Will Ferrie was in close attendance and managed to score an unconverted try in the Town Corner to end the scoring.

Melrose 50 Peebles 14.

Melrose – Hamish Weir, Connor Spence, Elliot Ruthven, Scott Clark, Robin Sharp, Luke Townsend, Douglas Crawford, Will Ferrie, Andrew Ceballos, Andrew Kirk, Angus Weir, Allan Ferrie, Jack Wilks, Ben McLean, Craig Fairbairn. Replacements – Logan Kirk, Robbie Robinson, Jack Dobie, Jack Henderson, Gordon Fullerton, Cameron Robertson, Matty Bertram, Morgan Gabe, James Barbour.

Peebles – Donald Anderson, Frey McIver, James Dow, Steven Hamilton, Rio Bhatia, Jack Harrison, Cree Britee-Steer, John Napier, Matty Carryer, John Gray, Ross Brown, Cameron Pye, Scott Lawson, Robert Harrison, Ewan Hunter. Replacements – Andrew Duncan, Kev Wilson, Kell McIver, David Anderson, Max McIver, James Hodgkiss, Ally Middleton, James Thomson.

Referee – Steven Turnbull. Assistants – Ryan Graham-Bowers & Bob Nevins.

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