SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY REPORTS

ALAN LORIMER
AT THE GREENYARDS

MELROSE 17
GLASGOW HAWKS 47

ONE down, 21 to go for a Hawks side who, if they can keep reproducing performances like this, look a good bet for a third successive BT Premiership championship.

But the holders would be wise not to put too much emphasis on their opening match. Few host sides will be as generous as Melrose who, despite scoring three excellent tries - two by top performer Mark Robertson - for the most part looked to be struggling against their elite opponents.

Hawks appeared to have all the answers - a hard-working, ball-winning pack and behind the scrum a back division, ably guided by Murray Strang, that constantly looked threatening.

It was Hawks who claimed the first points from a blindside break by stand-off Strang and then continuity play allowed Steven Duffy to make the opening for try scorer Ian Kennedy, Mike Adamson's conversion exacting maximum advantage.

Hawks struck again from a penalty-created lineout and a massive forward drive that ended with new recruit Nick Cox touching down.

Adamson missed the conversion kick, but three penalty goals in the lead-up to the interval by the Scotland U-21 cap was adequate atonement. Then, just before the break, Hawks had another chance to stretch their lead when Kennedy was given a run at the line from a Strang break but this time the centre was halted by a copy book tackle from Robertson.

At 21 points in arrears, matters looked bleak for Melrose but a try by Robertson from a clever kick ahead by Scott Wight, who added the conversion, restored hopes.

These were quickly dashed when Neil McKenzie finished off a period of ball retention by Hawks with a close-range try, converted by Adamson. Hawks' dominance continued with a bonus try by substitute Scott Forrest, made my an opportunist kick and gather by winger Stuart Low, Adamson again making it a seven-point score.

Then, just as it seemed the prophets were predicting a dire season for Melrose, the Greenyards men produced arguably the best try of the game. Scott Ruthven's perfect pass put Wight into space before Robertson provided the link to give wing Geoff Caldwell a score in the corner.

Retribution, however, was swift as Hawks moved the ball sweetly for Adamson to touch down but again Melrose confounded the doubters with a second try for Robertson made by Ruthven's swift pass.

Hawks had the final say with a solo try by Kennedy and the conversion by Adamson to complete a convincing victory.

Melrose: M Robertson; G Caldwell, J Murray, K Kaufana, B Watson ; S Wight, S Ruthven; A Gillie, W Mitchell, R Higgins, G Broomfield, S Aitken, S Johnson, A Clark , R Miller. Subs used: G Innes, I Cornwall, M de Franck, S Shiel.

Glasgow Hawks: M Adamson; K Baillie, I Kennedy, S Duffy, S Low; M Strang, R McKnight; E Milligan, M Scott, N Cox, S Warnock, R Maxton, G Francis, N McKenzie, M Sitch. Subs used: P Dalton, S Forrest, S Biggart, S Begley.

Referee: R Dickson (Madras College FP)

Scorers: Melrose - Tries: Robertson (2), Caldwell. Con: Wight. Glasgow Hawks - Tries: Kennedy (2), Cox, McKenzie, Forrest, Adamson. Cons: Adamson (4). Pens: Adamson (3).

This article was posted on 28-Aug-2005, 07:56 by Hugh Barrow.