Melrose 17 Kelso 26

The first loud cheer of the afternoon was saved for the arrival of the home side, but it would be the only one Melrose would generate in the competition this year.

Scott Ruthven benefited from Johnny Weston’s break and clever pass to start the host’s challenge. Ruthven successfully kicked the difficult conversion from the touchline.

Weston repeated the favour, this time Alec Clark taking the ball on to score before Kelso pulled themselves back into the tie. Graeme Cowe went over from short range, but Kelso couldn’t add the conversion.

Richard Minto narrowed the gap further when he stretched over in the far corner. Murray Fleming repeated Ruthven’s trick to add the conversion from the touchline as the sides went into the break on equal terms.

A burst of pace from Minto took him clear of a chasing Melrose defence to give Kelso the lead with Fleming again kicking a difficult conversion.

Kelso veteran Adam Roxburgh looked to put the tie beyond Melrose with a touch down between the posts. Fleming added the kick as things got heated.

Clark went over for his second, but it wasn’t enough to save the hosts from falling out of the tournament at the first hurdle.

Kelso Tackle Melrose	Kelso Tackle Melrose
Melrose Tackle Kelso	Melrose Tackle Kelso
Sevens Action	Kelso Tackle Melrose

Date: 09/04/2004