West of Scotland 15 - 20 Melrose

MELROSE won for the seventh successive time, but ultimately that success was much more hard-earned than it looked destined to be in the early stages.

The Borderers took the lead when hooker Lyndsey Gibson suddenly took the instant return at a line-out to dive over.

Scott Wight converted and it was all Melrose for the next 20 minutes. Wight added a penalty and when West's first sustained attack came to grief he whacked the ball up-field. David Whiteford side-footed it over the line and dived to touch down. Wight converted.

However when West should have collapsed they rallied. Winger Andy Park was sent over by swift hands and when Peter Horne closed the half with a penalty Melrose turned leading only 17-8.

West pulled it back to 17-15 thanks to a try from Richie Gray converted by Horne, but Wight's last minute penalty made Melrose safe.