Last-gasp try boosts Boroughmuir survival bid

Peter Wright’s men are on 30 points and in seventh place after the defeat, but they could still finish in the relegation play-off spot that goes to a last-day battle.

Heriot’s, who finish fifth, got off to a terrible start, knocking on from the kick-off and then conceding two penalties.

The hosts took full advantage of their sleepy visitors and scored a try in the third minute through hooker Matthews. Captain Chris Laidlaw converted.

A minute later Heriot’s lost influential scrum-half Tom Wilson through injury meaning a re-jig of their backline with full-back Charlie Simpson moving to the No.9 position.

Heriot’s did wake up and in the 16th minute winger Liam Steele’s run down the right put them 10 metres from the home line.

A penalty was then conceded by the defence and winger Ciaran Whyte was yellow carded.

With the man advantage Heriot’s scored a try through second-row Callum Marshall after a good forward drive.

In the 21st minute the 14 men of Muir extended the lead to 10-5 after a Laidlaw penalty.

They kept that five-point advantage as they returned to 15 men and were keen to add more points before the interval.

And they did just that in the 29th minute when Laidlaw, the stand-off, ran in from 30 metres. The same man converted and it was 17-5.

Heriot’s, who will finish the season in mid-table, closed the gap to five points when they scored another forwards’ try through hooker Michael Liness. Centre Ross Jones converted.

On the stroke of half-time the men from Goldenacre bagged a third try to take a half-time lead of 19-17 after back-row Iain Wilson went over and Jones converted.

Those two scores seemed to give the visitors confidence and they went in for their bonus-point try in the 45th minute after a mix-up in the home defence.

Replacement Stuart Edwards’ neat grubber kick through was not dealt with and centre Robbie Mulvena pounced for the converted try.

Mulvena then added another and at 33-17 Heriot’s were in control.

A converted try by winger Jordan Edmunds came for Muir with 15 minutes to go and in the dying seconds Heriot’s had second-row Jack Turley yellow carded and replacement Adam Sinclair red carded.

And Muir scored through Matthews again to get two vital points.