Watsonians v Melrose
Watsonians | Melrose
Saturday 3rd January 2024
Watsonians v Melrose – 3/2/24
The penultimate National 1 match for both teams was played on a dry and bright afternoon with a cold wind. The scoring started at 16 minutes when Struan Hutchison kicked a penalty, a feat which he repeated four minutes later to double the Melrose lead. Watsonians took the lead at 28 minutes when Stuart Allison took a quick tap penalty and barged his way over at the posts for a try converted by Fin Broomfield. This lead only lasted four minutes when, after a series of dummies by Bruce Colvine, Donald Crawford broke and scored at the posts with Hutchison adding the extras. After a series of plays, just at the interval, Hutchison scored an unconverted try to the left of the posts.
Half time – Watsonians 7 Melrose 18.
Six minutes into the second half a series of plays developed in the Melrose 22 ending with Matt Pritchard scoring and Ben Morris converting. At the start of the final quarter Watsonians regained the lead when a kick ahead down the stand side was followed by a series of plays in the left corner with Tom Gracie bashing his way over for a try converted by Morris. That lead, however, only lasted seven minutes. Melrose pressed down the left side with the ball being sent across the pitch to Keiran Clark who scored in the right corner with Hutchison converting to give Melrose a four-point lead. With only five minutes remaining, and from a penalty lineout rolling maul in the left corner, Gracie scored his second, and the Watsonian bonus point, try which Morris converted to give the home team a three-point lead and, ultimately, victory.
Watsonians 28 Melrose 25
Watsonians – Benn Morris, Danny Williamson, Harry Fisher, Aaron Tait, Josh Mitchell, Lewis Burns, Fin Broomfield, Cam Murphy, Matt Pritchard, Tom Gracie, Andrew McInnes, Jack Sutherland, Josh Minty, Andrew Steven, Stuart Allison©. Replacements – Jamie Holligan, Lochlan Morris, Bryce Robertson, Angus Stevenson, Callum Martin.
Melrose – Donald Crawford, Keiran Clark, Connor Spence, Roly Brett, Harry Makowski, Struan Hutchison, Bruce Colvine, Will Owen, Ben McLean, Andrew Kirk, Thomas Brown, Angus Runciman©, Elliot Ruthven, Will Ferrie, Craig Fairbairn. Replacements – Ruairidh Lindsay, Hamish Derrick, Logan Kirk, Dylan Cockburn, Matty Bertram.
Referee – Craig McCann
Thanks to Malcolm Changleng for the photos. To see more, follow the link: CLICK HERE
SATURDAY’S SCORERS
