Melrose make it a perfect ten as Thomson runs in hat-trick of tries against Watsonians
WATSONIANS
12
Fraser Thomson scored a hattrick of tries as leaders Melrose made it ten wins from ten in the BT Premiership with this hard-fought triumph at Myreside last night.
They scored four first-half tries to lead 25-0 at the interval, eventually winning 32-12 with full-back Thomson, pictured, now on 13 league tries for the campaign.
And as good as their attack is, great sides are built on defence and Melrose’s was impressive, keeping a side that had scored 48 points six days before against Ayr to just one try.
The home outfit got off to a good start and held on to possession well in the early stages.
They could not score though and were then dealt a blow in the 12th minute when centre DJ Innes was forced off with an injury to be replaced by Jack Harrison. At the same time centre Nyle Godsmark knocked on in a promising position for Melrose, but they soon had the lead thanks to a penalty by fellow centre Craig Jackson. In the 18th minute they got the night’s first try when Thomson used his power to go over for the unconverted score. Seven minutes later there was an incident involving both hookers – Ross Graham and Russell Anderson – and they were sent to the sin-bin.
Melrose’s pace in attack was really starting to show by now and in the 29th minute their second try came from secondrow Iain Moody, Jackson converting. And just two minutes later try number three came, Thomson over for his second score.
They had the bonus point score inside 35 minutes, the fourth try coming after a good team move with winger Sam Pecqueur, the Scotland Sevens cap, finishing it off to make it 25-0.
The second period started at some pace with neither side takingabackwardstep,butthe score remained unchanged until the 61st minute.
Watsonians got themselves on the board at that point with a try by replacement prop Nathan Borel. Full-back Andrew Chalmers converted.
Thomson then ran in on the right to complete his hat-trick with Jackson converting.
In the dying seconds scrumhalf Ali Harris got Watsonians’ second try in what was a cracking game of club rugby.