Hawick 19

Melrose 48

Eilidh Walker at Mansfield Park

MELROSE stormed to a seven-try win at Mansfield Park on Saturday as they outmuscled Hawick to claim the bonus point on the opening weekend of the season.

As the game got underway, Hawick showed they would not be immediately overawed by the reigning champions as they gathered and demonstrated some exciting play that looked certain to result in an early try.

This was however thwarted by poor decision making from the hosts which gifted possession and a try to Melrose through winger Michael Mvelase-Julyan.

Despite the early score the first half was a tense affair with both sides creating chances.

But the Melrose backs reminded the crowd of why they took the title last year, as they repeatedly ran through the Hawick defence.

Winger Iain Sim and centre Patrick Anderson quickly added further tries and a group effort also sent Angus Runciman over before the break.

A well worked try from captain Bruce McNeil was a consolation for the hosts, taking the half-time score to 7-26.

The second half got underway but lacked the intensity of the first, and it took 15 minutes for the next break as Fraser Thomson darted over the line for Rose's fifth try.

Hawick rallied and responded with two tries in quick succession with McNeil crossing again followed by replacement Ruari McLeod, taking the score to 19-33.

Melrose showed their match fitness and as Hawick began to flag, and the champions scored two more tries through Mvelase-Julyan and Struan Hutchinson.

Craig Jackson also added a penalty before the end, to accompany all but two of the day’s conversions.

Melrose Head Coach Rob Chrystie said: “There are definitely points to work on, the team are realistic about that but there are glimpses of what we can do.

"Credit to Hawick, they rolled their sleeves up. They showed a lot of guts today.”

“We have to keep focused on ourselves ahead of next week.

"We need to work on our cohesiveness. We took a bit longer off at pre-season because the season was so long last year and that was important.

"We just need to get together now and iron out a few things, we’ll be better for the game today, it was really bruising at times.”

Melrose will next face Glasgow Hawks on Saturday at The Greenyards.

Hawick: K Young, L Ferguson, F Robson, D Buckley, A Roberts, A Weir, G Huggan, M Carryer, C Renwick, P Ceccarelli, D Redpath, K McNeil, A Grieve, S Graham & B McNeil. Reps: R MacLeod, J Linton, D Suddon, G Walker & L Wooley.

Melrose: F Thomson, I Sim, P Anderson, G Taylor, M Mvelase-Julyan, C Jackson, M McAndrew, G Shiels, R Ferguson, R McLeod, J Head, A Runciman, R Knott, I Moody & R Runciman Reps: B McLean, C Crookshank, R Darge, B Colvine & S Hutchinson.