It was a competent team effort coupled with tries from hooker Alun Walker, flanker David Crawford and winger Alan Dodds which saw the Greenyards side claim the victory.

Despite conceding three tries in the first half, from lock Mike Howard, wing Handre Schmidt and full-back Mark Kohler, and going in at the break 17-0 down the hosts came out an entirely different side matching the visitors try count, but bettering their conversion accuracy in the second period.

Then just like last weekend at Gala, it was the pairing of Dodds who dived over in the last minute and Andrew Skeen who kicked a nerveless conversion that sealed the deal. 

Melrose captain, Graeme Dodds, said: “We’re delighted with the win, everyone worked together for this.

“We let them play too much in the first half and as a professional outfit they played quick and clinically rugby which we didn’t face up to.”

The hosts struggled in the first half to maintain any possession and allowed the visitors too much space to run with the ball which ultimately led to three soft tries. However, the half-time break couldn’t have come at a better time allowing Melrose to regroup and refocus. They then came out and fronted up in defence, gained the possession and executed some well worked attack moves.

 Dodds continued “At half-time Craig was calm and he just asked us to keep hold of the ball and cut out the mistakes and if we did that we would be able to build and create tries, which we did.

“Alan is getting really good at these last minute scores and Skeeners just loves putting over those pressure kicks. I’m really pleased for them.”

“The win today gives us a great lift for Donnybrook next weekend because Leinster will be strong and we need to have the belief from the start. If we do you never know what’ll happen.”

Run of play:

Today’s match was started with a minutes silence to commemorate the servicemen of our country who have served in war over the past century.

When the action got underway the visitors within a couple of minutes had put five points on the board after pressuring Melrose with some fast paced attack. The try-scorer was lock, Mike Howard who emerged from a pile of Bedford forwards who helped him over the line. Stand-off Jamie Lennard added the extras. 0-7

On 15 minutes Bedford had touched down again after centre, Alex Awenat drew the last man and offloaded to winger, Handre Schmidt who simply needed to run in from 15 metres in front of the terracing. 0-12

Bedford continued to put pressure on Melrose for the next 15 minutes dominating the possession, and after a prolonged period of defence in their own half prop, Nick Beavon was sent to the sin bin for indiscipline at the breakdown.

The visitor’s opted for the scrum which quickly led to a pass and full-back Mark Kohler slipping through the defence to add the third try of the game. 0-17

Minutes later Melrose stand-off Andrew Skeen took his opportunity to kick on a loose ball with his efforts taking the hosts onto Bedford’s try-line however Skeen knocked it on as he attempted to scoop it up and score the try.

Half-time: Melrose 0-17 Bedford Blues

Melrose opened the scoring in the second period with a try from hooker, Alun Walker. It all came from a free kick, scrum-half Colvine took it quickly and put it through the hands to winger, Joe Helps. Helps however was denied just short of the line, but the forwards assured the score with a pick and drive. 5-17

It was clear that Melrose were desperate to get back into this game five minutes later when David Crawford split the visitors defence wide open and dived over the whitewash. Skeen converted. 12-17

Melrose continued to dominate in attack for the next 25 minutes. This saw frustration and indiscipline slipping into the Bedford side ending with a yellow card for stand-off Lennard.

With five minutes to go the hosts managed to get within a matter of metres from scoring another try after replacement flanker, Scott McCormick ran a fantastic line through the Bedford defence from a inside ball.

It wasn’t over for Melrose though when in injury time they won a scrum against the head. Then all that was required was to put the ball through the hands: Colvine to Wight and wide to Alan Dodds who dived over in in the corner. It then took a nerveless kick from the touch line for Skeen to win the match. 19-17 

Full-time: Melrose 19-17 Bedford Blues

Melrose team: Fraser Thomson; Alan Dodds, Jamie Murray, Bruce Dick, Joe Helps; Andrew Skeen, Bruce Colvine; Chris Keen, Alun Walker, Nick Beavon, Gary Elder, Peter Eccles, Graeme Dodds (captain), David Crawford, Ross Miller.
Replacements: Richard Ferguson, Ruari McLeod, Stuart Johnson, Grant Runciman, Scott McCormick, Scott Wight, Cammie Murray.
 
Bedford Blues  team: Mark Kohler; David Vincent, Alex Awenat, Ian Vass, Handre Schmidt; Jamie Lennard, Stefan Liebenberg; Sam Walsh, Chris Locke, Phil Boulton, Sam Pailor, Mike Howard, Billy Johnson, Alex Rae (captain), Don Barrell.
Replacements: Kris Speed, Nico Steenkamp, Paul Tupai, Bry White, Ali Price, Tom Bedford, Josh Bassett.