Arnold Clark Men's Premiership: Honours even after Melrose vs Glasgow Hawks thriller

01/25/2025 01:44 PM

Melrose 33

Glasgow Hawks 33

ALAN LORIMER @ The Greenyards

A MIXTURE of tension, entertainment and nine tries warmed up the Greenyards spectators but, if this brew was to their liking, the overall feeling amongst the players and coaches was one of frustration at blowing, perhaps not in Storm Eowyn proportions, the chance of coming away with a win. 

Both sides could have secured victory had their respective goal kickers produced near perfect performances but it wasn't to be and the two teams had to settle for a three point dividend, resulting in the championship points gap between Melrose and Hawks remaining at eight.

"Both teams will look at the result and think they lost it" suggested Hawks' coach, Andy Hill, adding: "But if you'd asked us if we could come down here and score four tries we'd have taken that".

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In an impressive performance, Hawks used their heavier forward pack to good effect and then in the second half the visitors seemed to revel playing on the artificial surface at The Greenyards, their fast backline presenting problems at times for the Melrose defence.

Hill picked out former Scotland scrum half, Scott Steele, as one of the key players against Melrose, saying: "He was very influential for us. He's a driving force in the squad and probably one of the best defenders".

For Melrose there were mixed feelings about the final result. The home side's head coach Scott Wight, however, admitted: "Probably a fair result" adding: "We just didn't have enough ball today. When we did have ball we looked dangerous. The other thing was our discipline was terrible in the first half in terms of the ref's interpretation of high tackles.

"Overall we were just not good enough for 80 minutes. We were good with ball in hand but our defence wasn't what we want. But it's three points. Giving away penalties was expensive because Liam Brims is one of the best kickers in the league" concluded Wight.

In sunny but bitterly cold conditions Melrose made a bright start with a try by flanker Allan Ferrie within three minutes of the kick-off. The back row had ignited the scoring move with a powerful break and then when the ball was recycled, late replacement Evan Davies flipped a pass to Ferrie whose determined running was unstoppable, resulting in a try under under the posts and a straightforward conversion for Luke Townsend. 

This quick score by Melrose however, received an immediate reply from Hawks, who gained possession from the restart before a powerful surge by Isaiah Macaulay and then quick release of the ball created a try for Ryan Howie, the conversion by Brims levelling the scores.

The entertainment continued as Melrose hit back, this time flanker Elliott Ruthven breaking through midfield before offloading to Davies, who raced in for the home side's second try, again converted by Townsend.

Then after being held up over the Melrose line, Hawks compensated with a stylish period of rugby, by going through the phases and then releasing the ball to the left for Ryan Flett to touch down in the corner, the difficult conversion kick skilfully guided between the posts by Brims.

Melrose had a chance to regain the lead from a penalty attempt by Townsend only for the kick to drift wide of the posts. But when Brims attempted similar the Hawks stand-off made sure his penalty kick was on target to put Hawks ahead for the first time in the match.

If that was not sufficient Brims then added a second penalty kick on the stroke of half time to send Hawks into the break with a useful 20-14 interval lead.

Melrose looked purposeful at the beginning of the second half and were rewarded for their early determination after a storming run by number 8 Ruairidh Lindsay that paved the way for an attack near the Hawks' line and a try for full back Morgan Gabe, converted by Townsend for a one point lead.

The advantage was soon erased when,  after Hamish Weir was yellow carded for a deliberate knock down of the ball, Steele broke through the Melrose defence to lay on a try for replacement James Couper, this time Brims unsuccessful with the touchline conversion.

Hawks' lead was brief as Melrose struck back with a run out of defence by Corey Goldsbrough and then a defence shattering run by the remarkably quick replacement prop Jack Dobie that concluded with Ferrie making the best of recycled ball with his second try of the match and the bonus point score for his side, but this time Townsend was wide with his conversion attempt.

Somewhat controversially Hawks went ahead with a Brims penalty after Goldsbrough was judged to have taken out Couper in the air after a high kick from Doug Crawford when the tackle seemed to be perfectly timed.

Clearly irked at this decision Melrose vented their frustration with another mazy run by Gabe. Hawks were forced to put in a high tackle to stop the score leaving referee Steven Turnbull with no option but to award a penalty try.

The tension continued with Hawks laying siege to the Melrose line through their heavy forwards and then profiting from what was a Melrose turnover by the quick thinking of Steele, who, recognising the no-offside rule in the goal area, touched the loose ball down for a try to level the scores.

Uncharacteristically Brims, who had been near perfect off the tee, hooked the conversion attempt just wide of the far post to keep the scoreline tied at 33-33.

The drama however was not over, replacement Kieran Clark having the chance to win the match for Melrose with a long range penalty kick. In the event the ball went under the upright leaving the two teams tied at the end of an enthralling match.

Teams –

Melrose: M Gabe; H Weir, D Mulcahy, E Davies, C Goldsbrough; L Townsend, Scott Clark; W Owen, L Kirk, Z Swarzagak, A Weir, A Runciman ©, E Ruthven, A Ferrie, R Lindsay. Subs: B McLean, W Ferrie, J Dobie, A Common, C Fairbairn, D Crawford, K Clark.

Glasgow Hawks: E Muirhead; B Morriss, F Callaghan, C Elliot, R Flett; L Brims co-©, S Steele; I Malaulau, P Cairncross co-©, C Norrie, M Crumlish, M Oliver, A Syme, R Howie, L Stewart. Subs: K Shanahan, A Rutherford, C Nolan, Y Shaheen, G Cruickshanks, H Provan, J Couper.

Referee: Steven Turnbull

Scorers –

Melrose: Tries A Ferrie (2), Davies, Gabe, Pen try  Cons Townsend (3)

Glasgow Hawks: Tries Howie, Flett, Couper, Steele  Cons Brims (2)  Pens Brims (3)

Scoring Sequence (Melrose first): 5-0, 7-0, 7-5. 7-7, 12-7, 14-7, 14-12, 14-14, 14-17,14-20 (ht) 19-20, 21-20, 21-25, 26-25, 26-28, 33-28, 33-33

Yellow cards –

Melrose: H Weir (43)

Man-of-the-Match: Scott Steele's knowledge of rugby's laws and his quick thinking gave Hawks their bonus point try aiding the visitors' points tally in the Arnold Clark Premiership table. But it was his overall leadership, defence and of course the quality of his service that made the former Scotland cap man of the match.

Talking point: Melrose will be disappointed at having to settle for a draw after outscoring their opponents 5-4 in the try count. But what they did do was serve up some thrilling rugby that can only add to the coaching credentials of Scott Wight. For Hawks this match was a reminder of what they can achieve if they have a good surface to play on. Could we yet see a 4G version of Balgray?

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