Borders secure home win

Borders 22 Cardiff 20

Borders got their first win of the season thanks to an injury-time drop goal by stand-off Clark Laidlaw.

Laidlaw had earlier given away a penalty which saw Nick Robinson kick Cardiff ahead for only the second time in the match almost on the full-time whistle.

It was a scrappy game marred by mistakes on both sides with the only two tries coming in the first five minutes.

Cardiff took an early lead when full-back Donovan van Vuuren exploited a gap in the Borders defence to touch down.

But the Borders were level within three minutes as Colin Stewart won a good lineout ball and captain Kevin Utterson was on hand to break through for Gareth Morton to convert.

The defences were on top for most of the first half and two Morton penalties, split by a Robinson kick, took the Borders into half-time with a 13-8 lead.

Robinson and Morton exchanged penalties early in the second half while Cardiff’s Jamie Robinson missed the best chance when he dropped the ball with the line at his mercy.

With five minutes left, Nick MacLeod dropped a goal to cut the deficit and the Borders’ hopes seemed to have gone when Robinson’s fourth penalty put Cardiff ahead for only the second time.

But the 2,000 crowd were on their feet when Laidlaw’s drop goal a minute later clinched victory for the home side.