RHC Cougars 12
Melrose Ladies 12
RBS WOMEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE
HYPOTHERMIA was the only real winner as a bitter gale swept freezing rain across a mudbath of a pitch where RHC and Melrose fought out a bruising war of attrition for an honourable draw.
Yet again, Melrose could muster only 14 fit players, but as in so many of their games, numerical worries were forgotten in a display of pure grit and determination.
From the outset, the city side set about their gameplan – to bulldoze Melrose into submission through forward power.
Despite this tactic, the visitors kept them at bay throughout the first half, even producing the best attacks which, had they harnessed the wind advantage, would have them seen them further ahead than Lana Skeldon’s solitary try.
Behind at the break, but with the wind at their backs, RHC took early control in the second half and quickly drove over twice to take a 12-5 lead.
Just as it started to look bleak for ’Rose, they picked themselves up and took the game back to the home side.
Late in the game, a break and kick ahead by Chloe Rollie allowed Lyndsey Gilchrist to crash over from the ensuing ruck, leaving Nicola Halfpenny to send over a difficult conversion into the wind to deservedly level the match.
Melrose Ladies: E. Pate, N. Halfpenny, L. Gilchrist, T. Elms, C. Rollie, L. Skeldon, M. Maciver, L. Purves, M. Robson, J. Hall, A. Gordon-Smith, E. Hackney, A. Rivera, R. Wood.