Controversy as Melrose v Ayr game postponed moments before kick off – Hawick get bonus point win at Marr



Minutes before kick off in the top-of-the-table clash between Melrose and Ayr at The Greenyards, Ayr decided to pull out of the game due to concerns over the state of the pitch after a frosty night in the Borders.  Melrose were totally happy with the pitch but laws state that it only needs one person from the two captains and match referee to voice concerns, and the match will be postponed.  Melrose Director of Rugby, Mike Dalgetty, was very angry with the decision and felt the pitch was playable. We asked him and Ayr’s Head Coach Callum Forrester for their views on camera. Watch the interviews here along with the moment the game was postponed. Ayr’s Scott Sutherland video’d his own pitch inspection which he claims was recorded at 3.32pm when the match would have still been active. View it here.  ITV report can be seen here.

Only three BT Premiership matches went ahead with Hawick gaining a valuable 5 point try bonus win at Marr. Ross Combe (with a brace), Lee Armstrong, Gary Graham and Bruce McNeil all crossed the whitewash and that result means the Greens are now within two points of Boroughmuir at the foot of the table, and it gave Hawick their fourth win in all competitions in a row.

Hawick Harlequins won their top-of-the-table clash at North Berwick in East league 1 23-20 while Langholm were drawing at Barnton 15-15 when the game was abandoned due to a serious injury to a player.