BT Premiership ROUND-UP: Melrose push past Ayr to claim three wins from three

17 Sep 2017

The Borders’ Rose was in full bloom on Saturday as Melrose put on a dominant display against reigning champions Ayr at Millbrae (17-34).

Mistakes proved costly for Ayr with the visitors capitalising through Craig Jackson’s precision kicking which helped to extend Melrose’s lead throughout the game.

Melrose Head Coach, Robert Chrystie, acknowledged that the Borderers can’t be complacent after their successive victories.

He said: “To come up here and play against the champions and win our third game of the season is definitely pleasing.

“It sounds cliché to say we will take it game-by-game but there is clear things we need to work on after that match but we will look at that on Tuesday night and come back again on Thursday.

“It’s good to be back in Melrose for the next two weeks and we will be looking to kick-on ahead of playing Hawks, who will be looking to bounce back from their loss against Heriot’s, so it will be an interesting week.”

Melrose started the game on the front foot as hooker Russel Anderson powered through the pink and black defence to dot over the line within the first five minutes of the game.

This was followed by a brief flurry of tries from the Borderers which were sealed by wingers Sam Pecqueur and Ross McCann with Craig Jackson adding the extras.

As Ayr began to put pressure deep in Melrose’s half, a momentary lapse of concentration allowed Ross McCann to grab a loose ball and canter down the wing to score.

Defiant Ayr bounced back before the half-time whistle as Grant Anderson darted over the line to secure the first try of the match for the hosts.

HALF-TIME: 10-31

The west-coast side demonstrated their determination and grit throughout the second-half of the match as they aimed to close the gap.

Melrose prop Ruairi Mcleod was penalised for collapsing a driving maul and Ayr reaped the benefits by securing a penalty try.

The hosts continued to press late in the game crossing the Melrose line but they were unable to ground the ball and Melrose went on to claim three wins from three.

FULL-TIME: 17-34

Elsewhere, Currie Chieftains have maintained their successful start to the season as they claimed victory in a capital derby against Boroughmuir while Marr pushed past Hawick 19-23 at Mansfield Park.

Glasgow Hawks suffered a shock home defeat to Heriot’s while Watsonians secured their first victory of the season on home territory against Stirling County.