Melrose 29 Glasgow Hawks 27

A Border Ballad
As the Hawks lined up to receive the kick off the kick off at the Greenyards, five horsemen rode past the ground carrying one of the Banners which are part of the lore of the region. These were immortalised by Sir Walter Scott;
“March, march, Ettrick and Teviotdale,
Why the deil dinna ye march forward in order!
March, march, Eskdale and Liddesdale,
All the Blue Bonnets are bound for the Border.
Many a banner spread,”
In that past it was raiders from England and the south who had to be fended off, now it was men from Glasgow and the north. As the game kicked off, Glasgow again began in intense style, a whirlwind of pace and ferocity which put the hosts immediately on the back foot. An early assault saw Jack Steele force a grubber kick forced Melrose to concede a five metre scrum, as first Haddon McPherson, then Steele and finally Finlay Gillies battered at the line before scoring in 3 minutes. With Mike Adamson converting, Melrose were down by a goal before they could draw breath. (0-7)
Within minutes Rose had narrowed the gap when Joe Helps knocked over a penalty almost from the restart. (3-7)
Adamson then restored the lead again as Melrose were penalised after the kick-off. (3-10)
Melrose now reacted to the intensity of Hawks start by taking the game to the Glasgow men. Rose won a scrum just inside Hawks’ territory and there was a clean strike from a solid scrumage. Graeme Dodds picked up from the base putting a short quick pass to Bruce Colvine. The scrum half took a pace before sending a beautiful long pass to winger Damian Hoyland. Who took the ball cleanly and at pace, passing two despairing Glasgow tacklers and touching down for their first try. With Helps failing to convert, Hawks held the lead but battle has been joined. (8-10)
Despite Melrose having significant possession the Hawks defence was solid and Steele even extended the lead keeping the scoreboard ticking as he punished some ill-discipline and back-chat. (8-13)
This advantage was short lived as again Hawks infringed from the restart and Helps narrowed the lead. (11-13)
Melrose were in the ascendancy and were close to gaining a try when Adamson intercepted a pass ten metres from his line. He burst forward running from his 22 into the opponents half. Realising that he was not going to make the line he looked around for support only to find himself enveloped by full back Lockington, who had tracked back at full tilt. The Hawks support piled in and Melrose were in an apparent panic but the visitors held onto the ball too long allowing the pressure to evaporate as Melrose worked their way back up the pitch from the subsequent penalty.
Moving into the last ten minutes of the half, Melrose battered at the visitors’ line, there was no surprise in 33 minutes when the pressure led to a Rose penalty, which gave Rose the lead for the first time as Helps helped himself to another 3 points. (14-13)
Moments until half time and still Hawks were clinging on resisting the onslaught from the Borderers. It is often true that constant defence leads to an increase in infringements. Melrose opted to go for a number of scrums several times as they aimed to gain a try rather than take the three points on offer, but each attempt was frustrated by the Hawks defence. Referee Andrew McMenemy’s patience was wearing thin as he issued a warning to Hawks skipper Ally Maclay, which the veteran centre passed to his troops. It is ironic, then, that the next penalty conceded was by Maclay as he infringed on the line and found himself dispatched to the sideline for ten minutes. With half-time close, Melrose took the penalty and extended the lead. (17-13)
Before half time, Steele joined Maclay on the naughty step as the side lost both centres for the collective sins of the team.
As the second half kicked off, Melrose found themselves in familiar territory, for a second match in a row, they were 2 men up just as they had been against Ayr. They moved to take advantage of Hawks woes. The home back line which had been threatening but failing to breach the Hawks’ defence finally opened up in 45 minutes as Lockington, who was a source of torment to the Glasgow men, put a ass out to Scotland 7s flyer and local lad, Mark Robertson. Robertson ran in with ease and with Helps converting Melrose had a comfortable lead. (24-13)
When numbers were restored Hawks appeared rejuvenated, approaching the hour mark they had worked their way deep into the home 22 and it was now Melrose turn to find themselves on the rack. A sustained drive fell short when Hawks were held up over the line. In turn, first Gillies and then Rory McKay took the battle to Melrose. James Gormley was now the one to be held up short of the line but as the ball came back it fell to McPherson to break from close in slipping past the Melrose defence and scoring sweetly. As Adamson goaled Hawks were back in the contest. (24-20)
The Melrose back line continued to be a source of menace and it took hard work for Hawks to counter the threat. Several breaks on angled runs presented some heart stopping moments, but time and time again the visitors answered “the call” and blunted the attack. There remained however a feeling that when it came, the next Melrose score had been coming for some time. Lockington broke from deep putting the pass to centre Andrew Skeen who then passed to Hoyland who finished to complete his brace. Helps was unable to convert the touchline conversion but the game seemed up with 4 minutes on the clock. (29-20)
Muttering in the Press Box had the game done a dusted but this Hawks side have already shown the benefit of the levels of fitness they have brought into the league after pre-season. They set about heading back into Melrose’s territory, determined to play for the full 80 minutes. Three points, a penalty maybe even a drop goal, would secure a bonus point. But Melrose were disciplined in defence and Hawks were made to do it the hard way. Yards came slowly but time seemed to stand still. The chance seemed to pass when they were held up over the line but there was time for a scrum, possibly the last of the match. 9 points was the gap when McPherson took the ball, juked in under the embrace of a Melrose defender and was over for his second. Adamson goaled and the referee blew for full time. (28-27)
A narrow loss with a bonus point won but also a message sent out across the league Hawks are back and they are ready for the battles to come. The determination and fitness of this young Hawks side a point to note. Leaving the Borderers a memory of battle to ponder.
“Tell of the bloody fray,
When the Blue Bonnets came over the Border.”

This article was posted on 8-Sep-2013, 10:41 by Hugh Barrow.