Heriot's 24

Melrose 34

MELROSE left Goldenacre with all five points on Saturday to lead National League One.

But it took a late interception to stem the Her4iot's threat and earn a try bonus point.

Heriot's had raced into a 12-3 lead at the half hour points.

While Melrose had enjoyed their share of possession, finding a way through the home defence was proving difficult.

But as half time approached Donald Crawford ran in for the first of the visitors' tries.

David Colvine's conversion made it 12-10.

Just before the break James Brown also barged his way over for the Rose to take the lead.

Colvine's penalty made it 12-17.

Melrose continued to press the home line in the second half and they were rewarded with a Gavin Wood try.

The successful conversion gave Rose a 12-point lead.

But Heriot's were far from finished, scoring a try just before the hour.

Colvine calmed the Melrose nerves with a well-taken penalty to make it 27-17.

But yet again the home team found a way through for a converted try.

At 27-24 it was Heriot's who were pushing for the victory in the closing minutes, but an interception from Lewis Mallin saw Melrose home with a 87th minute runaway try.