Tynedale Colts were back in league action on a lovely sunny afternoon and while still missing some players with injuries still managed to turn out a good squad of 25. Facing them this week were Melrose who have only lost 1 game so far this season and always a very hard fixture.
The Tyne boys got off to the traditional poor start conceding 5 penalties in as many minutes and as soon as Melrose got within kicking distance they went 3-0 up.The wake up alarm still had not rung and following some poor defending Melrose were over for a try, now the colts got going with a great chase and hit by Chris Harvey at the kick off the forwards were starting to work. Angus White making ground and looking lively despite an illness that kept him out of training all week, as the colts made ground it was Melrose that were penalised on their 22 and Rob Parker put points on for Tynedale making the score 8-3. The half ended with Melrose on top and running in another try.
At the start of the 2nd period scores were end to end 1st Melrose then with a burst of pace from Martyn Hutton in from full-back the colts finally crossed the white wash. Another batch of poor tackles saw Melrose run in before Guy Pike giving Tynedale's back line some much needed pace and power drove over to score a try which Parker converted.
With the game poised at 34-15 and 14 minutes left to play the gladiator that is James Raine stepped up to thrill the locals by powering his way over for 2 tries, he might be the youngest player on the pitch but he was almost unstoppable dragging up to 3 players over the line with him. With 1 converted the game ended and Tynedale were still 7 points short.