Glasgow Hawks 21 Melrose 25: Wright laments error-prone Hawks

ALTHOUGH a rip-roaring last five minutes from Glasgow Hawks saw them almost pinch an unlikely victory, a basic handling error halted their momentum, and as coach Peter Wright later suggested, it was a snapshot of their day and in fact their season thus far.

However, it would have been harsh on the visitors who had shown a greater pragmatism throughout. Melrose controlled the ball for long periods, particularly in the second half. They also had Jordan Macey, who snapped up two of the three try-scoring chances which came his way.

That did not dilute Wright's sense of frustration. "It's just little errors, bad defence at times after we had withstood a lot," he said. "We've been defending quite well and then letting in a soft score.

"It's getting that consistency in defence that is the problem at the moment. We gave ourselves a wee chance at the end but let ourselves down again with basic errors."

Neither side impressed in the first half and they turned tied at six-points apiece, two Scott Wight penalties matched by one each from Stevie O'Donnell and Mike Adamson.

Wight and winger Callum Adamson combined to release Macey for his first try and soon after a clever line-out ploy allowed Scott McCormick to glide over.

Craig Gossman hit back with Hawks' first try, but Macey's second gave Melrose a comfortable margin. It was only when pressing for a further try in added time that Mike Adamson scored on an interception.

Melrose assistant coach John Dalziel said: "I thought we were worth the win. Overall I thought we were the better team in the scrum and line-out, and around the park. They defended very well, but I thought we asked more questions of them."

Scorers. Hawks: Tries: Gossman, Adamson. Con: Adamson. Pens: Adamson 2, O'Donnell. Melrose: Tries: Macey 2, McCormick. Cons: Wight 2. Pens: Wight 2.

Glasgow Hawks: C Gossman; J Wright, M Adamson, G MacDonald, S O'Donnell; I Noble, P Bowyer; G Strain, J Maclay, G McFadyen, A Kelly, N Campbell, G Harkness, N Caddell, G Strang. Subs used: S Blackwood, N Nyemba, A Kirkland, E Morrison, S Murray.

Melrose: A Jessop; C Anderson, D Whiteford, J Macey, J King; S Wight, S McCormick; A Gillie, W Mitchell, R Higgins, J Bradburn, G Dodds, R Ovens, B Wallace, S Johnston. Subs used: L Gibson, N Beavon, A Thomson, C Hardy, D Dodds.

Referee: D Jack.