Melrose 17

Currie 10

MELROSE reached the last eight of this year's BT Scottish Cup but they had to withstand a fightback by the capital side.

Volunteers spent the morning removing the covers from the Greenyards pitch.

And their precautions against the frost were rewarded with a blistering start by Rob Chrystie's team.

After some phases of early pressure Aaron Welsh crashed over from the back of a rolling maul after only six minutes.

The welcomed return of fly-half Jason Baggot, following a two-months absence, saw the South African slot the conversion.

Baggot added a long-range penalty just a few minutes later to give last season's beaten finalists a 10-0 lead.

Just after the quarter hour the lead was extended to 17 points following a fantastic breakaway try.

Fraser Thomson made the initial burst from deep inside his own half before the ball was spread along the line to Thomas Klein.

Having just come on the pitch as a replacement, Klein accelerated down the wing to score in the corner.

Baggot again got his angled right to convert from the touchline.

Hopes of Rose running away with the tie were dashed just before the break as the hard-working Currie pack made enough ground for Fergus Scott to barge over for a try.

Jamie Forbes' conversion reduced the half time deficit to 10 points.

A Forbes penalty on 52 minutes brought the Malleny Park side even closer.

And there a few looks of concern as Ally Grieve was sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes with less than quarter of an hour remaining.

In the end Melrose did manage to hold on and claim their place in draw for the next round.

Melrose: Fraser Thomsom, Patrick Anderson, Austin Lockington, Gavin Wood, Sam Pecqueur, Jason Baggott, Murdo McAndrew, Callum Crookshanks, Russell Anderson, Ruairi McLeod, James Head, Aaron Welsh, Ally Grieve, Grant Runciman, Iain Moody. Replacements: Cammie McKay, Jamie Bhatti, Callum Wilde, Bruce Colvine, Thomas Klein.