WHARFEDALE under-12s retained the Melrose Trophy for the fourth successive year on their tour to the Scottish borders.

Playing three 20-minute games, they got off to a good start against Jedburgh. Wharfedale deservedly went in front when Jack Price made a run down the left wing and set up a good pass to AJ Thompson, who crossed to score. James Leeming made sure the opening game was won with another try in the second half.

The second game was against the home team, Melrose. After a stalemate in the first half, changes where made and AJ Thompson broke the deadlock after a few minutes.

Pressure was put on Melrose again and James Hutchinson collected the ball from a ruck to set Lloyd Davies on a run that sealed the game for Wharfedale.

It made for a tense final game against Gala, who had fielded an older side which had beaten Dale 81-10 the day before. A win for either side would clinch them the competition.

Within the first few minutes, Wharfedale had pinned Gala down on their touch line. After Dale had won turn-over ball, Ryan Grange charged through Gala's defence to open the scoring.

The Greens had to defend for much of the second half, but with three minutes to go, Duncan Clayton-Stead won a chase from a huge kick upfield by Lloyd Davies and crossed to seal the game and the trophy for the under-12s.