Melbourne were looking to bounce back from defeat in the RFU Intermediate Cup and were presently with a strong challenge from Loughborough who had made a strong start to the season.

Melbourne welcomed Dan Walker back into the starting line-up, taking up the loose head position and tight head prop Gary Lakin also coming in. Thomas Lowery moved from the bench into the starting wing and the replacements were made up of Harry Stephenson, George Stephenson and James Benstead.

Melbourne started brightly and had excellent ball retention, probably guilty of not playing for territory well enough in the first quarter. Typically Loughborough presented a very physical challenge and were very direct in their approach. Melbourne edged the set-piece in both the scrum and lineout. The one concerning factor being discipline as once again multiple penalties allowed Loughborough to stay in the game and give the opposition easy points. This saw Loughborough take a 0 - 6 lead.

The first score was courtesy of Jack Fisher following some excellent phase play. The exciting Melbourne backline moved the ball with aplomb and Fisher coming from deep struck a lovely angle allowing him to work the weak inside shoulder and scythe the defence for the first score of the day. 7 - 6

Despite Melbourne pressing the visitors for long periods they lacked their usual clinical edge and it was beginning to look like it may cost the home side and sure enough it soon did. Loughborough stand-off reading a play well picking off a loose pass and sprinting in unopposed for a single score. This put the visitors in front and against the run of play. 7 - 13

Melbourne needed a response and made two early changes with Benstead and Stephenson entering the Frey. Bringing immediate impact the two forwards looked to add physicality and directness to the green & gold play.

The form side didn't have to wait long until influential centre Jack Pearce took the ball forward and burst through the defensive line and despite the best efforts of the covering defence was able to dot the ball down in the tackle. 14 - 13

Half Time

George Stephenson entered the Frey and Harry Stephenson moved to wing following an injury to Thomas Lowery. The green&gold spoke of playing with more purpose in the second half and ensuring they reduced the penalty count.

It hasn't been often this season that you could describe Melbourne at wasteful, but with the lions share of possession several line-breaks and sustained pressure in the opposition twenty - two Melbourne failed to make it count.

It was thanks to Melbourne's other influential centre Charlie Livesey that a third score soon followed and Melbourne were able to add some breathing space to the score line. This time the ball the was move through the hands wide left and the big centre powered between two defenders scoring the try as he went to ground. The celebration was short lived as an injury saw the big centre replaced with around twenty minutes to go.

The final twenty minutes saw Loughborough maximise their points with a sole visit to the home sides twenty two, going through multiple phases before eventually powering over the line for their final points. 21 -18

This was the only notable visit Loughborough had in the final twenty. Melbourne went looking for a fourth try but couldn't quite reach the standards of recent games and as a result settled for a penalty from captain Holden.

Final Score - 24 -18

With Round 5 now completed Melbourne face a couple of their toughest fixtures to date with an away trip to Market Rasen and then Matlock at home. The next few weeks will be a true test for the Green & Gold who will be looking to improve and execute higher standards going into these games.

Trys - Jack Fisher, Charlie Livesey, Jack Pearce
Euan Holden - 3 conversion and a penalty
MOTM Jack Pearce