Rugby Union: Rise of Melrose the flower of Scotland

MELROSE rounded-off an unprecedented season of success by claiming the Tennents Scottish Cup, beating Boroughmuir in front of 23,000 spectators at Murrayfield yesterday. They call the borders outfit the "Rangers of rugby" but even the men of Ibrox would be impressed by the consistency shown by Melrose in making a clean sweep of the Premiership, the venerable Border League and even their own blue riband seven-a-side tournament.

If ever a side was entitled to take a lap of honour it was Melrose, led by the international full-back Rowen Shepherd who signalled the way with a hat-trick of tries on a ground he has graced during the past two seasons for Scotland. A veil can be drawn over the penalty kick Shepherd missed in front of the posts because by that stage it was inevitable that Melrose's superior fitness and conditioning would tell. For a town with a population of just 3,000 it is a remarkable success story, but for an hour it seemed the town band and others who had made the pilgrimage up the A68 might return home disappointed.

Boroughmuir, with only three contracted professionals to Melrose's 11, had been expected to give only a reasonable account of themselves to send the veteran internationalist Sean Lineen into well-earned retirement. But Lineen had other ideas and after Campbell Aitken had slotted an early penalty the maestro put the wing Ally McLean in for the first of two tries. The Under-21 cap still had plenty to do when put in possession, but he strode outside Shepherd and rode Scott Nichol's covering tackle for his 36th try of the season. The joy was short-lived as Boroughmuir, brilliantly led by their skipper Stuart Reid, were rocked by two scores in as many minutes.

Shepherd slotted a simple penalty and then was on the mark to grab a try he could not convert, after Derek Stark and Nichol had dribbled through the Muir defence. Muir's back play was a treat to watch and with half- time looming they were rewarded when Dougie Wyllie went over for a 13- 8 lead. But it was always going to be fragile insurance against a strong wind in the second half.

Melrose levelled within a minute when Bryan Redpath, Ross Brown and Nichol released Mark Moncrieff to go over. With 54 minutes gone Boroughmuir recaptured the lead for a third time when Aitken struck a penalty into the wind.

But apart from a late consolation try by McLean it was all Melrose. Shepherd took passes from Stark, then Redpath to cross unopposed and rammed home a couple of penalties for good measure.

Melrose: R Shepherd; D Stark, S Nichol, Ross Brown, M Moncrieff; C Chalmers, B Redpath (capt); M Browne, S Brotherstone, P Wright, Robbie Brown, S Aitken, M Donnan, C Hogg, N Broughton.

Boroughmuir: C Aitken; A Mclean, D Laird, S Lineen, N Renton; D Wyllie, G Beveridge; S Paris, K Allan (D Cunningham, 66), A Penman, D Burns, G McCallum, A Cadzow, S Reid (capt), R Kirkpatrick (S Wands, 60).

Referee: E Murray (Greenock Wands).