Heriots 29

Melrose 47

David Morrison at Goldenacre

MELROSE are setting the bar higher by the week as their record-breaking bonus win-run continues.

On Saturday Rob Chrystie's team ran in eight tries to brush aside the challenge from Heriot's.

And in this form it's difficult to see any team stopping the Greenyards machine bulldoze its way to the title.

Ross Jones' early penalty did put the hosts into a brief lead.

But on 12 minutes the free-running Melrose backs soon began to take control.

A quick penalty on half way led to Jason Baggott going over for the try.

Just five minutes later Fraser Thomson found enough space to race through the defensive line and pass to Ross McCann.

The winger was dragged down just before the line, but from the resulting ruck Ruaridh Knott barged over.

Craig Jackson made it 12-3 with the conversion.

Heriot's pegged the visitors back before losing a lineout inside the Rose 22.

Neil Irvine-Hess sprinted from deep and he fed the supporting Nyle Godsmark to score a further unconverted try.

Jackson did add a penalty before half time to make it 20-3 at the interval.

A further penalty from the centre stretched the advantage just after the restart.

And on 48 minutes Melrose secured their eighth try bonus point from eight matches.

Thomson burst onto quick ball from the scrum to dive over in left corner.

Aaron Welsh's yellow card did allow Heriot's some respite and also the opportunity to narrow the lead.

Craig Robertson pulled a try back after showing good speed.

But Melrose responded with Ally Miller running all of 60 metres to score.

Jack Turley helped Heriot's to another try from a driving line-out.

And more pride was restored for the Goldenacre side when he crashed over again from a similar move just eight minutes later.

Melrose were soon on the front foot again, though, and they were awarded a penalty try approaching the 70th minute.

And just a minute later, straight from the kick off, Baggot darted down the flank to feed Thomson for a try beneath the posts.

Jackson's conversion took Melrose to 47 points.

There was still time for Turley to score his hat-trick with a powerful surge for his own team's try bonus point.

Melrose: F Thomson, R McCann, N Godsmark, C Jackson, S Pecqueur, J Baggott, B Colvine, G Shiells, R Anderson, N Beavon, A Welsh, A Runciman, N Irvine-Hess, R Knott & A Miller. Reps: R Ferguson, R McLeod, A Grieve, M McAndrew & G Wood.