IT was never going to be easy at Mansfield Park on Saturday for Melrose, as it will be for other visitors, but it was their commitment and clinical power that won the day on a tense afternoon.

Melrose looked to be in need of inspiration as Hawick fought back from a 3-24 deficit early in the second half, cutting the gap to 15-24 with 20 minutes left.

The players responded, dug deep in defence, and Fraser Thomson, as he had done for Sam Pecquer’s opening try, created the break for former Selkirk and Edinburgh Accies winger, Nyle Godsmark, to clinch the bonus point in the second minute of injury time.

It was an impressive performance from a Melrose side wanting to rid itself of the runners-up spot earlier in year.

John Dalziel, its coach, was delighted with the success on a ground where teams will find it hard to collect points. “It helps the confidence to take into the rest of the season,” he said.

“It has been an easy transition for new players to fit into the side. There can be a lot of nerves and passion in the first game and you can tire yourself out with that.

“If we had not got another score, it would have been an edgy finish, but we scored the try.” The new players did well, as did the 'old brigade with Grant Runciman leading by example and men like Graeme Dodds and Richard Ferguson adding to the strength of the team.

Hawick’s captain, Bruce McNeil, believed his players had lessons to learn from the game, despite coming back from being 3-24 down. “Against teams like Melrose, you just cannot switch off,” he said. “You need to be clinical for 80 minutes, and we weren’t on the day.” Melrose surged into 17-3 half-time lead with tries from Pecqueur and Ally Miller, with Joe Helps adding the conversions and a penalty to a penalty by Neil Renwick.

Dodds and Nikki Walker were each yellow-carded and Melrose cashed in early in the second half with a Helps try, which he also converted.

Hawick started to dominate and two rapid tries from Wiann Griebenhow and Craig Russell, the second converted by Renwick, cut the deficit before Godsmark sealed the win in injury time.

Hawick: N. Renwick; N. Walker, W. Griebenhow, J. Coutts, C. Russell; R. Hutton, C. Cottrell; S. Muir, R. Graham, N. Little, C. Charters, F. Simpson, S. Graham, B. McNeil, R. Scott. Replacements: L. Gibson, W.Blacklock, N. Mactaggart, S. Goodfellow, L. Armstrong.

Melrose: F. Thomson; N. Godsmark, B. Dick. J. Helps, S. Pecqueur; J. Baggott, M. McAndrew; J. Bhatti, R. Ferguson, N. Beavon, J. Head, G. Dodds, N. Irvine-Hess, A.Miller, G. Runciman. Replacements:C. McKay, R.McLeod, A. Grieve, R.Mill, R. Taylor.