BOROUGHMUIR 14 MELROSE 12

Boroughmuir head coach Peter Wright was full of praise for his side’s patience after they scored a last-gasp converted try to defeat Melrose on Saturday, writes Gary Heatly.

The Edinburgh men were 12-7 down heading into the closing stages of this one at Meggetland but they played through the phases and scored the winner thanks to skipper Johnny Matthews, with winger Gavin Parker converting.

“The boys deserved the win for their perseverance if nothing else,” Wright said. “It was a sweet feeling when Gavin’s winning conversion went over. They are a great bunch and I have enjoyed coaching them for the last three years.”

“There were some good bits and some poor bits from us,” Melrose head coach Rob Chrystie said. “We know the things we have to work on before knock-out rugby comes around.”

In the ninth minute, home tighthead prop Dan Winning was yellow carded after a charge into the home 22 by Melrose second-row James Head but the visitors could not take advantage of the extra man.

Melrose were able to open the scoring in the 37th minute, second-row Angus Runciman going over from short range.

Boroughmuir were not done for the half, though, and scrum-half Tom Wilson darted over from close range after back-row replacement Rory Drummond had gone close. Parker converted to make the score 7-5 at the interval.

A well-worked try in the 47th minute put Melrose ahead, centre Patrick Anderson going over for the converted effort after Craig Jackson’s cracking break.

However, at the death, Matthews’ 19th try of the season and Parker’s conversion won it.