MAIN talking point after this one-sided contest at The Gytes on Saturday was 'did the match do either club any good?’ Melrose, who fielded its strongest team available for the Border League fixture, minus the injured captain Bruce Colvine, demolished a Peebles side that looked out of its depth even before half-time when they trailed by 57 points.

However, both sides believed that it was a stepping stone to the real action which begins on Saturday. Former Melrose captain, Graeme Dodds, who came on as a replacement, said: “It was a very good first half and we got our structures very well.

“We got enough out of it and we made a lot of changes, but it gave the players a chance. We have a lot to work ahead of the league this weekend.” For new Peebles coach, Ewen Robbie, it must have been distressing to watch. However, he said: “It was a much better second-half performance and we have progressed (despite the score) from our defeat at Selkirk two weeks ago.

“Melrose showed that they will be a hard side to beat this season.” There were many aspects which would please coach John Dalziel, particularly the performance from centre Bruce Dick, who fitted into the side after a lengthy lay-off with a couple of tries.

The return of Joe Helps, whose kicking was again of a high standard, and top performances from the new players, showed that Melrose has plenty of strength in depth.

Melrose’s power added to its clinical finishing meant that Peebles were chasing shadows in the first half, but after the break, the home side got its act together and Robbie will be hoping that the club’s drive for new recruitments pays dividends.

Melrose scored 12 tries through Sam Pecqueur (3), Dick (2), Fraser Thomson (2), Struan Hutchison (2), captain Grant Runciman, Neil Irvine-Hess and Dodds with nine conversions from Helps while the consolation try for Peebles came from Greg Raeburn, and this after Andrew Muir and James Head were yellow-carded by referee Gareth Fairbairn in the first minute.

Peebles: G. Raeburn; C. Blyth, R. Clinch, M. Brown, J. Harrison; M. McGahan, D. Anderson; W. Napier, R. McConnell, G. Turner, R. Brown, J. Swiatek, K. Brown, R. Harrison, A. Muir. Replacements: A. Brown, G. Pringle, L. Brink, G. Hogarth, C. Pye.

Melrose: F. Thomson; N. Godsmark, B. Dick, J. Helps, S. Pequer; T. Galbraith, S. Hutchison; J. Bhatti, R. Ferguson, R. McLeod, J. Head, A. Grieve, N. Irvine-Hess. A. Miller, G. Runciman. Replacements: C. Mackay, N. Beavon, D. Elkington, G. Dodds, A. Nagle, R. Mill, R. Taylor.