Others say that such matches, as this Booker Border League contest last Friday, give fringe players the opportunity to stake a claim for a first-team place in the middle of a fractured season.

Melrose, watched by among others, Jim Telfer, did what the club needed to do to sustain an interest in the competition, boosted by four tries for the bonus point.

Jed fought like tigers, but Melrose prowled around Riverside Park against a team rebuilding from the bottom.

Melrose, as current Scottish champions, should have won by a bigger margin, but injuries and substitutions on both sides disrupted the game, left the reasonable crowd with the view: 'At least we got a game while city clubs idled another week on the sidelines’.

Good or bad? According to Melrose assistant coach, Robert Chrystie, ahead of the game, an opportunity not to be missed, particularly after a 2nds XV match against Selkirk a week earlier had to be postponed.

Jed battled hard, took the game to their more improvised opponents, and added to Fraser Harkness’ commitment and direction, kept Melrose waiting for the final crucial try.

There was much to admire from the determination of all the players, and the home crowd who were not always supportive of some of the decisions of referee Rob Dickson.

Melrose fielded potential first-team players in Tom Galbraith, Aaron Welsh and Angus Runciman, but it was the pack at the throes of the major threat with Nicky Little and Ewan McQuillin getting the early tries from forwards’ pressure.

Melrose led 14-0 at the break, and with Jed reduced to 14 men following a yellow card, Blair Hutchinson sprung through a gap for the third try.

It seemed a matter of time before they notched the bonus, but not before Ryan Miller scored for Donald Grieve to convert.

Not 'game on’, but with 12 minutes left, Bruce Colvine, who had switched to scrum half from the wing, got over the line, and Joe Helps added the third of his conversions.

Melrose: F. Thomson; R. Tolland, B. Hutchison, J. Helps, B. Colvine; T. Galbraith, T. Wilson; N. Little, R. Ferguson, E. McQuillin, A. Welsh, L. Carmichael, J. Head, R. Knott, R. Miller. Replacements: C. Mackay, M. O’Brien, A. Runciman, R. Mill, D. Crawford.