Kelso v Melrose 8/2/25

Kelso v Melrose – 8/2/25

Arnold Clark Premiership and Border League points, together with the Bill McLaren Shield, were on offer on a cold and mucky afternoon with the Poynder Park floodlights illuminated from the start. A penalty lineout in the left corner, at seven minutes, ended with a series of plays and Allan Ferrie barging his way over for a try converted by Luke Townsend. Seven minutes later, after numerous phases of play, Bruce McNeil birled over for a try converted by Dwain Patterson. From the kick off a series of plays developed on the left with Corey Goldsbrough scoring an unconverted try to the left of the posts. At 28 minutes Archie Barbour retrieved a Melrose kick out of defence on halfway and, confusing the Melrose defence, jinked his way to the left corner before passing in-field to Murray Woodcock, backing up well, who scored the try for Patterson to convert. Patterson then proceeded to end the half by kicking penalties at 36 & 39 minutes.

Half time – Kelso 20 Melrose 12.

It took until 17 minutes after the break for the next score. After a series of plays, with Kelso pressing, Andy Tait secured a loose ball to score to the left of the posts. Patterson added the extras then, six minutes later, kicked his third penalty. Melrose pressed from the kick-off and, close to the Kelso line, Tait was shown a yellow card for a cynical off-side offence. Struan Hutchison took a tap penalty quickly passing to Allan Ferrie who bashed and twirled before dotting down between the posts with Hutchison converting to end the scoring, although play continued, unfruitfully, for a further ten minutes.

Kelso 30 Melrose 19

Kelso – Archie Barbour, Dwain Patterson, Adam Hakl, Frankie Robson, Hamish Tweedie, Liam Herdman, Andy Tait, Grant Shiells, Ewan Knox, Dan Gamble, Cammy Thomson, Keith Melbourne, Jack Utterson, Murray Woodcock, Bruce McNeil. Replacements – Nickolas Barnes, Allan Frame, Alex Orr, Sam Wood, Will Tweedie, Arran Jackson, Robbie Tweedie.

Melrose – Hamish Weir, Bruce Colvine, Elliot Ruthven, Roly Brett, Corey Goldsbrough, Luke Townsend, Douglas Crawford, Jack Dobie, Logan Kirk, Zen Szwagrzak, Angus Common, Angus Runciman(c), Will Ferrie, Allan Ferrie, Craig Fairbairn. Replacements – Andrew Ceballos, Struan Hutchison, Andrew Kirk, Declan Mulcahy, Mac Rutherford, Morgan Gabe, Jack Wilks

Referee – David Young