One point game sees County into semi-final

Melrose took a step towards a league and cup double with an emphatic victory at The Greenyards to leave cup holders Heriot’s clinging only to a possible top-four place.

The victory, achieved in a dominant first half which ended with the hosts leading 29-5 at the interval, earned plaudits from director of rugby, Mike Dalgetty.

“The first half was just about perfect. The second half was a lot closer and Heriot’s were always going to come back into the game with the changes we made,” he said.

“That is a massive end of the season we have now. We have three big weeks here, including the Melrose Sevens, and it’s a huge congratulation to all our players. They are a great bunch of boys.”

Heriot’s coach Phil Smith was obviously disappointed, particularly after his side scored the opening try in six minutes through Michael Liness.

“We were outgunned in the first 25 minutes of the game. We were certainly outplayed, made a few errors, and Melrose were very clinical,” he said. “They did a lot of good things a lot of the time and, at half-time, our boys felt very low and felt that they had not done anything – and that’s not like them.

“To come out and have a big second half was great – fair play to them. They did win the second half, their effort levels were pretty good and showed that we have a bit more to offer the game. What we have to play for is out of our hands. The Currie-boroughmuir match will determine everything and I would like the boys to have another shot.”

There was no indication of what was to follow when Liness drove over for the opening try – but Melrose’s opening try by Austin Lockington from a break by Fraser Thomson was quick and decisive, James Baggot converting. Thomson was also instrumental in the second try two minutes later, collecting a clearance in his own half, splitting the Heriot’s defence, and sending Lockington over again. Melrose continued to dominate as Heriot’s struggled to get into the match and a score from George Taylor, pictured, in 25 minutes and Lewis Carmichael’s from Taylor’s pass, Baggot converting both, and a Baggot penalty, sealed a semifinal place.

It was six minutes from the end before Junior Rasolea touched down and John Semple converted…but, despite a yellow card for Cameron Mackay, the hosts were in easy street.

0 Lewis Carmichael goes over for his try to strengthen Melrose’s grip on the game in a decisive first half.

STIRLING COUNTY BOROUGHMUIR 32 31

This was a truly remarkable BT Cup tie that had more twists than the Rest and Be Thankful, writes Martin Laing. Both sides at times thought they had the match won only to see their lead snatched away, and, in the end, it was the intervention of referee Graeme Wells that gifted the win to County, who now travel to Melrose in the semi-final.

The awarding of a penalty try by Wells deep into injury time at the end was a correct, though deeply dispiriting decision for Boroughmuir, whose head coach Peter Wright was sanguine at the close.

“In the first half we were never at the races,” admitted Wright. “But in the second half we were outstanding and played some great rugby.

“The penalty try wasn’t a controversial decision as our player deliberately slapped the ball out of play and by the letter of the law that’s a penalty try. But it was a great game of rugby.”

His opposite number, David Adamson, shared many of the same opinions. “It was a very good game of cup rugby,” offered the County coach. “We are really pleased, especially because in the first half we played some of the best rugby of our season.

“Now we have got Melrose coming this Saturday in the league and then away the week after in the cup.

“We’re really looking forward to the semi-final as it’s the first time we’ll have been there.”

Stirling had raced to a 22-point lead in the first half hour, with tries by Reyner Kennedy, Andrew Grantsuttie, Ross Jones and Matt Donaldson, only one converted by Jonny Hope, but Boroughmuir hit back with a touchdown just before the interval by Craig Keddie.

Robert Cairns added a brace of scores, augmented by tries from Aaron Purewal and Dale Robertson, Dougie Steele converting three of them as the visitors surged into a six-point lead, Hope having nudged over a penalty.

But then a chip to the corner was palmed out by Purewal and referee Wells had no option but to give the penalty try, which Hope goalled for the narrowest of wins.