Melrose gladly hand it to Keith

writes Bill McMurtrie. His was the enthusiasm of a youth rather than the

senior Melrose back that he is.

It was only his second game since Scotland's November international

against Australia. Yet he knew no bounds. His hands were on the passes

that led to five of the six Melrose tries.

Two of Graham Shiel's scores had Robertson's involvement. Shiel and

Robertson co-operated for Douglas Little's support try that took Melrose

to 17-9 at half-time, the international centre laid on George Runciman's

score off a tapped penalty, and mesmeric footwork beat three opponents

before he put Ian Ramsey over.

Only Shiel's first was done without Robertson. A feint by Craig

Chalmers released Ramsey for the wing to score.

It was Robertson's kind of game. Both teams made rugby of the flowing

kind, and though GHK had the benefit of Ewan McCorkindale's long, swift

service, Melrose were the more creative in midfield. Robertson was ably

aided and abetted there by Chalmers and Craig Redpath.

Doddie Weir gave Melrose an early lineout advantage and the home pack

were usually more purposeful in mauling drives. Alan Watt, however, was

a consistent contributor to GHK's touchline effort, and Fergus Wallace

gave an exemplary lead first when, as auxiliary stand-off, he broke

through from a close-range lineout for a try that put his team ahead

after 11 minutes.

The lead lasted only briefly. Shiel countered with his first try, a

score that originated in Weir's lineout deflection for Robbie Brown's

forcing peel.

Even when the game was lost GHK continued to add to the pleasure with

Murray Wallace's two late tries. McCorkindale's quickly taken short

penalty created the first, and the flanker ran 55 metres for his second

after he had blocked a Melrose punt.

George Breckenridge kicked a penalty goal for GHK in each half as well

as converting the first and third tries, the last from the right

touchline. Andrew Hay had a well-struck drop goal off Watt's lineout

take, a score that cut Melrose to 29-15 after 57 minutes.

Ramsey opened with a penalty goal before kicking four conversions, and

with his own try, his match haul was 15 points. It was, though,

Robertson's match.

Melrose - I J Ramsey; A G Shiel, K W Robertson, A C Redpath, A M

Redburn; C M Chalmers, A J Tait; R E Craig, J G Runciman, K S Sudlow, R

R Brown, B Hogg, J W D Little, G W Weir, A Redpath.

Glasgow High/Kelvinside - G Breckenridge; G D M Wilson, G S Macnab, A

Waddell, D Michie; A Hay, E D McCorkindale; J Couper, R T S Bedford, G T

McKee, D Maciver, A G J Watt, M I Wallace, F D Wallace, C Eason.

Referee - A Lyall (Gala Star).