Melbourne travelled the short distance to local rivals Ashbourne on a beautiful spring day, observing a slight cross wind. Changes were aplenty in the starting squad as Melbourne showed their squad depth and quality. Ed Whitten starting at loose head, Mark Coyne coming into hooker and Tony Day making his mark at tight head. Nightingale and Judge returned to the row and a shuffle in the pack saw James Benstead switch to blindside. In the backline, Mallet came onto the wing and Jack Fisher returned to fill the fullback role, Sam Hancock continued at scrum half. The bench comprised Rudkin, Macken and Dickinson.

Melbourne started brightly and dominated the first twenty minutes playing an expansive game and challenging the home side with strong forward carries and sweeping backline movement. The first score of the day came from a line out with the ball secured, albeit loosely, at the back. A series of strong carries, latterly from Tony Day created space out wide for Jack Fisher to hold a two on one and execute the pass for Joe Stuart to score wide right.

This was to be as good as it got for Melbourne early doors, as they were guilty of taking their foot off the pedal and some lax defence, an unusual occurrence for the league champions, opened the door for the home team. Two quick scores, including a penalty try from a scrum and a score wide right allowed Ashbourne to take advantage of a huge momentum swing.

Following the half time break Melbourne new that they faced an acid test. With Ashbourne the "noisy neighbours" in full vociferous voice on the side lines and a firm belief that they could claim a second scalp. All three replacements were brought into action and made immediate impacts.

If Melbourne have learnt anything its how to play the conditions and stay in the game. Holden chipped away at the lead with a penalty and despite a yellow card for vice captain Tom Warren, Melbourne began to turn the screw. On sixty minutes quick thinking by the ever excellent Iliffe saw the open-side take a quick tap penalty and power his way through the home sides wayward defence to touch down for Melbourne's second try.

With Melbourne now blood thirsty and winning the confrontation and physical battles, a third try was soon scored. Jack Fisher coming into support play from deep and identifying a gap in the outside centre channel. Dickinson held his line and fixed the outside defender maintaining the space for Fisher to sprint through and score at pace.

Melbourne's fourth try quickly followed as Ashbourne capitulated within themselves and the winning score came courtesy of the powerful Charlie Livesey palming off the attention of several defenders and driving his way to the try line taking the score to 22 - 29.

This was how the score remained until the final whistle. Melbourne showing real guts and determination to fight back for the win, proving they can be down but not out.

MOTM: Alex Nightingale
YC/RC: Tom Warren (YC)
TRIES: Stuart, Iliffe, Fisher, Livesey
KICKS: x 1 Penalty and x 3 Conversions