Melrose 27

Ayr 10

Eilidh Walker at the Greenyards

A COMPOSED Melrose stunned title rivals Ayr with a dominant second-half performance to stay at the top of the Premiership table in a tight game at the Greenyards on Saturday.

Just one point separated the teams coming into the match and second-place Ayr’s teamsheet showed the significance of the game as Glasgow Warriors Pat McArthur, Adam Ashe, Djustice Sears-Duru and Robert McAlpine all drafted in to their 22.

The game was a physical encounter, with Ayr looking to be the more dangerous side in the early stages.

But after just seven minutes flanker Will Bordill was shown the first yellow-card of the match for a late tackle on Craig Jackson.

Despite having a numerical advantage, Melrose were unable to translate this into points, despite dominating possession and territory.

With Ayr back to full compliment Jackson scored a penalty for Melrose after 19 minutes of play taking the score to 3-0. However the lead was short-lived as Ayr fly-half Ross Curle replied with a penalty of his own just minutes later to draw level at 3-3.

The first try of the game came shortly after when after 27 minutes, Fraser Thomson’s quick thinking lined up George Taylor who threw a well-timed if marginally forward pass to Austin Lockington. Lockington ran in the try from the halfway line, while Jackson secured the conversion to regain control of the scoreboard at 10-3.

Play had just resumed when Melrose flanker Neil Irvine-Hess was stretchered from the field following a suspected neck injury. Dealing a blow to the home side as Irvine-Hess had performed strongly, especially in the lineout throughout the first-half.

Ayr repeatedly tested the Melrose defences but they kept their composure to deny Ayr a first-half try and retained the lead going into the break 10-3.

Jackson scored a further penalty at the start of the second-half and Melrose again showed their strength in defence when they denied several attempts from Ayr. The visitors finally managed to break through after 53 minutes when captain Pete McCallum crossed for Ayr’s only try of the match, which was duly converted by Curle.

With just over ten minutes left to play Will Bordill was given his second yellow-card of the match. Melrose were able to use this advantage when minutes later Russell Anderson scored a try and Jackson added the conversion to build a 20-10 lead.

Melrose dug in, keeping the pressure on Ayr and the visitors fate was sealed when with two minutes left on the clock, Ross Curle was sent to the bin, leaving his team with only 13 players.

With the last play of the game Ruairi McLeod crossed for a third Melrose try and Jackson scored the final conversion to round out the day’s scoring, 27-10.

Melrose Head Coach Rob Chrystie said: “It was a really physical, hard game of rugby but I think our discipline won it.

“Our defence was really strong. The squad were fantastic and the boys coming off the bench had a real impact as well.

“It was a great game, Craig Jackson was outstanding today and he definitely put his hand up for a club international opportunity and Neil Irvine-Hess was absolutely outstanding.”

Melrose now have a break from the Premiership until January 14 when they will travel to Stirling County.

Melrose: Fraser Thomson, Austin Lockington, Nyle Godsmark, George Taylor, Ross McCann, Craig Jackson, Murdo McAndrew, Jamie Bhatti, Russell Anderson, Nick Beavon, James Head, Ruaridh Knott, Neil Irvine-Hess, Grant Runciman, Iain Moody. Reps: Cammie McKay, Ruairi McLeod, Lewis Carmichael, Struan Hutchison, Sam Pecqueur