Melrose win border duel
March 2, 2003

Melrose 29 Hawick 13

Showing greater cohesion and finishing power, Melrose deservedly beat old foes Hawick by four tries to one in an entertaining Integrated Tournament game at the Greenyards.

Melrose were keen to open up from the start and when former Scotland
international Graham Shiel pounced on a kick ahead, he sent in Shaun Longstaff for the opening try which Scott Ruthven converted.

Neil Stenhouse, for Hawick, and Ruthven exchanged penalties as the game continued at pace, each side moving the ball well.

But Hawick found it difficult to turn their moments of pressure into points,
and it was Melrose who stretched their lead, Kacey Mitchell sprinting 30 metres to round off an excellent move from good position set-up by the forwards.

Ruthven converted as Melrose underlined their greater conviction, before
Stenhouse's second penalty at the break left Hawick 17-6 adrift.

Melrose continued to control the game after the re-start, number eight Tom Weir picking up at a scrum to go over for Ruthven to convert, and when replacement Graeme Dodds crashed over for a fourth try, Melrose had the game sewn up.

Hawick still battled on however, and flanker Tyson Takiari was on hand to
claim the try when the Greens' pack drove over midway through the half.

Stenhouse converted but although Hawick dominated the final minutes, they could not crack the Melrose defence.

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