On a glorious, summer esk, Saturday Melbourne welcomed Wellingborough to Cockshut lane. Both teams looking for their first respective wins of the campaign thus far.

The green and golds welcomed back James Squires to tighthead and Tom Warren starting at Number Eight. Jack Percival shifted to tight lock and Kelvin Browne was awarded a starting spot following an excellent debut against Towcester the week before. Jack Fisher and Oliver Page returned to the starting backline. Saffell switched to fullback and Stuart and Hancock on the wings.

Receiving the kick Melbourne got off to a flying start as Joe Stuart rampaged down the right wing out sprinting the covering defence and diving over in the corner for a try within the first minute, superbly converted by Sam Hancock.

The fast start was followed by good pressure from Melbourne but their discipline cost them early as numerous penalties gave away their good field position and undid the hard-work previously done. One of these penalties was converted by WRFC giving the visitors their only score of the day.

Melbourne continue to dominate the set-piece early doors as they turned over the visitors line-out and put pressure on the scrum despite a clear weight advantage. A penalty from a breakdown infringement was awarded midway through the first half and Hancock again converted well.

Despite the lions share of possession, Melbourne struggled to convert or create the few chances available not helped by start stop nature of the game, through their own ill disciple. However, shortly before the second half, outside centre Jack Fisher eyed a gap and accelerated through the visitors defence to create a 2 on 1 which he duly obliged to complete moving the ball to supporting scrum half Oliver Page for Melbourne second try, with Hancock adding the extras.

Three interchanges were utilised at half time with a full second row pairing swapped and James Burrough coming into hooker. Melbourne settled into the game and soon had a third try and Joe Stuart his second of the match as a cross field run by Lawrence Betty switched play seeing the ball spread wide to expose a struggling defence. Joe Stuart combining well following a miss pass to see his run and support play rewarded with an excellent try and Hancock maintain 100% from the tee with the conversion to boot.

Melbourne were soon down to fourteen as James Squires saw yellow for an infringement at the scrum. Melbourne coped well however and soon added their fourth and a bonus point to the cache of the win with Jack Fisher rewarded for his fine performance. Hancock converting again.

The final score combined all the back three with Hancock himself the final scorer following a late drive and surge for the line, the irony being he failed to convert his own score!

The DRAGON Soop MOTM was awarded to Jack Fisher.

A solid performance from Melbourne as they adjust to life in the higher division, with much to still improve on they are capable of achieving more. A tough few weeks lie ahead, facing stern tests with both the high flying teams of Derby and Lutterworth awaiting.