SRU SUPER-CUP

CURRIE 15-27 MELROSE
NEWLY crowned Premier champions Currie made a dreadful start to their Scottish Hydro Super Cup campaign at Malleny Park. An upset was always on the cards after the Borders opened up a 20-8 advantage at the interval, and they staved off a mini-revival by the rattled home troops to secure victory.

Touchdowns by hooker Wayne Mitchell, breakaway forward Stuart Johnson and winger Barry Watson - along with two kicks from Scott Wight - had put Melrose in the driving seat.

Ally Warnock got Currie off the mark with a penalty and the rally was sparked by scores from full-back Evan Haigh and scrum-half Graham Calder. But the visitors refused to buckle and Callum Anderson grabbed the clincher.

GLAS HAWKS 28-32 BOROUGHMUIR
BEN Fisher emerged as the 'Muir hero as he ploughed over for the winner in the dying minutes of an epic cup clash at Old Anniesland. 'Muir broke the deadlock in the seventh minute with a penalty by Elgin O'Donnell in the wake of a sustained spell of attacking action.

O'Donnell then converted an opportunist try from Rory Couper, which acted as a wake-up call for the hosts who fought back to reach the interval a point ahead.

Hadden then converted a Freddie Lait effort for 'Muir but a Max Evans score, goaled by Murray Strang, kept Hawks in the hunt. And they edged back in front when Francis bagged his second try, converted by Adamson - only for Fisher to snatch the clincher.

WATSONIANS 53-16 HERIOT'S
WHETHER it was all down to the experimental law variations, or there was just a lot of sloppy tackling in the first game back after the Festive Season, but there was loads of excitement, no shortage of line-breaks and there were tries galore with Watsonians running amok in the later stages.

It was fast and loose rugby with referee David Jack letting things run. The home side led 17-3, were pegged back to 17-16 at the break but then produced five cracking tries in the second half to romp clear. Craig Sorbie notched a hat-trick whilst Jeff Nicholson, Murray Bringhurst, Mike Ker, Malasia Mialo and Cammy Mather had one apiece. Heriot's had three Graham Wilson penalties, their only touchdown from Mark Lee.

This article was posted on 7-Jan-2007, 09:42 by Hugh Barrow.