Bouncy Castles for the children,pre-match hospitality for the Provost,Councillors,Melrose Officials and travelling supporters,Sponsors and former Falkirk players in a Marquee adjoining the Clubhouse,as well as a Beer Festival and the Skirl of the Bagpipes were all part of the fantastic entertainment laid on prior to Falkirk,s encounter with last season's Premier Division One Champions Melrose at Cala Park last weekend. However,in the heady and festive atmosphere,when the match finally commenced it took only 3 minutes for the Border side to open the scoring when their forwards took control from a lineout close to Falkirk's line for an unconverted try. Showing their intent,and to their credit,the Sunnysiders struck back 7 minutes later when Club Captain and Scrum Half Mark Bruce showed a clean pair of heels in Melrose's 22 metre area when he scampered his way through,in an angular run,for a try under the uprights which Stand Off Jonny Hope duly converted. Ominously though the visitors began to show their prowess and speed of handling when a breakout by their fleet-footed full back produced a well taken converted try,which must have pleased watching coach Former 1990 Grand Slam Hero Craig Chalmers. Managing to stem the flow for the next 15 minutes or so Falkirk conceded 2 unconverted and a converted try in the closing 10 minutes of the half to trail by 29-7 at the break. Taking more punishment after the commencement of play Melrose then proceeded to run in a further 2 converted and an unconverted try over a 30 minute period of time. Nevertheless the Sunnysiders eeked out a deserved consolation try when a neat break
from Jonny hope near the Borderers line saw Full Back Chris Harris take the scoring pass,with Hope again adding the conversion. Alas the Premier Division Champions had the last say in the afternoon's affairs when they added a further converted try. Falkirk Team 1.Peter Curry 2.Kris Burney 3.Guy Ramsay 4.Keepa Mewatt 5.Brendan Cairns 6.Jeff Leepa 7.Nathan Watson 8.Cole Ronald 9.Mark Bruce 10.Jonny Hope 11.Matt Morrell 12.Finn Russell 13.Graham Gilliland 14.Gordon McGuire 15.Chris Harris Subs. Bob Wyllie Stuart Mong Calum MacAskill Niall Lear Stuart McAllister.