Melrose 20 - 3 Ayr: Melrose maintain title charge

MELROSE officials spent the morning removing the covers from the pitch and it paid off as the Scottish champions kept up their title challenge and almost certainly ended Ayr’s hopes, writes Atholl Innes.

After a good first half, Ayr were on the back foot in the second and two Bruce Dick tries secured victory.

Ayr dominated the early stages and it was no surprise when Sylvain Diez kicked an early penalty.

Melrose responded with a series of attacks, which lacked the penetration to break down a strong defence. Andrew Skeen pulled a penalty wide when Ayr were penalised for not rolling away. At the other end Mark Stewart was halted by a forward pass.

Melrose had to make a change as Grant Runciman had to leave the field while Diez put a penalty pass the post to increase his side’s lead.

Ayr stepped up the pressure into the final seconds of the first half, but Melrose held on desperately to keep their line intact. Melrose struck within a minute of the restart when veteran Cammie Murray broke the Melrose stranglehold to send Dick over and Skeen converted.

A Graeme Dodds interception saw Bruce Colvine kick into touch with Fraser Thomson looking for the ball.

Skeen kicked a penalty and Dick wrapped it up injury time and Skeen converted.