Boroughmuir 33

Melrose 42

AN early blitz at Boroughmuir set Melrose up for their 11th straight bonus point victory.

Rob Chrystie's team are showing no signs of slowing down despite a stiff test in the second half at Meggetland.

The head coach said: “We started really well and came out quickly, but Boroughmuir are a good side with good individual players and the try just before half-time gave them a sniff."

Craig Jackson's early penalty was added to in the fifth minute by Bruce Colvine scurrying over after a series of drives.

Terrific tackling prevented Boroughmuir responding.

And on 17 minutes a tremendous break away eventually led to Gavin Wood diving over in the corner.

Jackson's excellent conversion extended the lead.

Within three minutes Jason Baggott's perfectly executed through kick was collected by George Taylor for the third try.

The home lifeline came in the 37th - following a lengthy disruption for injuries - when Callum Atkinson managed to break through.

Ciaran Whyte made it 20-7 with the conversion.

But Melrose added to their total at the start of the second half with a Jackson penalty.

And with the hour approaching Patrick Anderson raced over for the bonus point score.

The home side responded with two quick tries to narrow the gap to 28-19.

Former Gala player Craig Keddie crashed over and a couple of minutes later Jordan Edmunds also touched down.

But any hopes of a fight-back were quickly dashed as Jackson capitalised on a mistake to collect and race over for Rose's fifth try.

Just four minutes later Baggott sprinted between defenders to add a sixth.

With Jackson's two conversions Melrose now had a 42-19 lead.

Late home scores from McKirdy and Mark Hare narrowed the gap and earned them a bonus points.

But it was Melrose who were celebrating at the final whistle.

Melrose. A Lockington, P Anderson, G Taylor, C Jackson, G Wood, J Baggott, B Colvine; G Shiels, R Anderson, N Beavon, R Knott, A Runciman, N Irvine-Hess, G Runciman, I Moody. Reps: R Ferguson, R McLeod, R Campbell, R Darge, S Hutchison.