MELROSE had a very useful training match against Glasgow Hawks at The Greenyards with a number of the “new” faces on show.

Among the new arrivals are, pictured from left to right, Jamie Bhatti (Stirling County), Ally Grieve (Kelso) and Sam Pecqueur (Edinburgh Accies).

The Premiership runners-up host Jed-Forest in the Booker Border League on Friday, August 14, with kick-off at 6.30pm.

Looking forward to the season ahead, new President Trevor Jackson said: “I am looking forward to seeing a lot of free-flowing dynamic rugby over the next few months, as all us retired props do, and hope to see you all there too, cheering the team on.

“One event that has occurred without great fanfare, is the retiral of JW Telfer from coaching the Wasps side along with Gel Tait and Dave Shiel.

"They made a great coaching team, getting the best out of the boys and instilling a professional attitude to training and the sport that was a credit to Melrose. I am only sorry that we have not yet found a way to give them all their proper due.

“As a consequence, the preseason training has been brought under one umbrella giving the Wasps an insight into senior training, although not for the contact sessions. Stuart Johnson has put himself forward to coach the Wasps along with the help of the other coaches. We wish him well and we shall watch this year’s progress with interest.”