The third team welcomed the return of Roger Lucas and John Sibley with Ray Sparkes and Tim Young starting their first games of the new season. James Ayre, son of Mini and junior stalwart Trevor, made his senior debut. 

Match Report

Melbourne again fielded a full 15 players, traveling away to Ollerton.

Ollerton played a forward dominated game with Melbourne's pack up against it throughout, however, the experience of Sibley, Lucas and Sparkes kept the game evenhanded and, in the loose, negated Ollerton's power.

James Perry played a tactical kicking game keeping Ollerton pinned into their 22 for most of the first half.

In the 15th minute Melbourne won a scrum, 5 metres out and although Ollerton disrupted possession Dot Cottons' quick thinking enabled him to make use of his large frame to pick up and force his way over.

James Perry converted for a 7 point lead.

Melbourne continued to press Ollerton's flanks forcing an error from their Fullback. In a chase for the line Perry, dived on a loose ball but was adjudged to have knocked on instead of scoring, in his judgment, a legitimate try.

Melbourne's final points came close to the end of the first half when forward pressure and a break through the middle by skipper Andy Fulton caused an infringement. The resultant penalty was slotted by Perry.

Melbourne turned round 10: 0 up.

Second half was much as the first with all the work coming from the two forward packs. Melbourne introduced two substitutes, Ayre and White in an attempt to close out the game but in the dying minutes Ollerton broke down their right flank to score in the corner.

A great game at a hospitable club.

Man of the Match Ray Sparkes

Scorers

Try: Cotton

Pen: Perry 

Con: Perry