Melrose lifted the trophy to move 4-3 ahead in the competition and it is hoped that Gala prop, Paul Stewart, and Melrose back-row player, Ruairdh Knott, recover after both had to be stretchered from the field – and caused referee Cammy Rudkin to send the players into the dressing rooms at the start of the second half.

Stewart broke the same ankle which he also broke at Aberdeen last season while Knott was taken to hospital with pelvis and hip injuries and, in the circumstances, both sides had to show extra resilience to continue with the game.

Melrose regained the Waverley Cup with a comfortable win in a hard contest, which gave fringe players the opportunity to show their mettle and challenge for starting places in the senior XV.

Just before half-time, Stewart was stretchered off and the referee took the players off the field for around 12 minutes just after the interval when Knott was taken to hospital.

At one time, it was thought that the game might have to be abandoned, but the players returned and Melrose held the upper hand in front of a bumper crowd to end Gala’s three-in-a-row success.

“It was a decent game until the injuries and it then lost its shape a bit,” said Melrose coach John Dalziel. “We had young guys there getting their first chance in a Melrose jersey, and I am really pleased about that.

“This game remains a huge opportunity for us (and Gala) developing the squad, and provides the next generation of Melrose and Gala players.” Gala coach George Graham added: “The injuries did overshadow the game, but both teams wanted to play rugby. Although we lost, I was encouraged by a number of things. There is disappointment when you lose to your neighbours, but there is still encouragement.” In a stop-start first half, Melrose held the initiative after Joe Helps kicked a penalty to put his side ahead in only three minutes. Helps missed an opportunity to increase the lead when he pulled a penalty wide. The Melrose defence stood firm until Ewan Scott levelled the scores with a penalty.

Seven minutes from the interval, Melrose scored the opening try when Helps slipped a pass to Murdo McAndrew, who in turn sent Bruce Colvine under the posts and Helps converted.

Worse was to follow for the home side as Helps banged over a second penalty, and on the stroke of half-time. Stewart was stretchered off to leave Gala 10 points adrift.

Two minutes into the second half, the game was held up again as Knott received attention before Melrose put the tie beyond doubt when forward pressure saw Nick Beavon driven over and Helps converted.

Tito Mua was yellow-carded, but Gala were unable to make the extra man count until Russell Anderson scored and Scott converted, too late to save the game and simply for pride.

Gala: R. Howarth; K. Young, E. Scott, A. Emond, G. Speirs; D. O’Hagan, I. Ross; P. Stewart; R. Anderson, E. Johnstone, C. Weir, O. Palepoi, , S. Wilkinson, E. Dods, T. Weir. Replacements: R. Tod, C. Mackintosh, K. Mein, S. Johnstone, G. Somerville, R. Jeffrey, C. Dods.

Melrose: F. Thomson; T. Mua, B. Hutchison, J. Helps, B. Colvine; T. Galbraith, M. McAndrew; N. Little, R. Ferguson, E McQuillin, A.Nagle, L. Carmichael, P. Eccles, R. Knott, G. Dodds. Replacements C. Mackay, N. Beavon, N.Irvine-Hess, A. Runciman, T. Wilson, R. Mill, G. Taylor.