After a walkover in the opening weekend of games, it was a full month since Broughton had taken to the field and their trip to Borders offered some ring-rustiness in an opening quarter that saw the hosts come out of the traps and featured heavily inside the visitors’ 22.

Dogged Broughton defending saw a trio of try saving tackles keep Kelso at bay however lady luck eventually swapped sides for the home side to open the scoring with a try that Nicola Halfpenny converted with the help of the top of the crossbar.

Broughton rallied and a dynamic burst through the middle by Lucy Hanna saw the speedy full back break through the heart of the home rear guard and with the chasing pack closing her down, it was a selfless pass to the supporting runner Erin Ramage who completed the task. Lorna Murdoch converting to level proceedings.

On the stroke of half time, Kelso nudged themselves ahead once again, Halfpenny this time with the Drop Goal from bang in front.

HT: Kelso 10-7 Broughton

It took Broughton just five minutes to get their noses in front for the first time in the game and it was a lead that they were never to surrender.

Erin Ramage’s pass out wide found Olivia Henderson who, naturally, went on trucking up the highway to the try way and her hand off gave her the freedom to run in unopposed, making the extras an easier offering for Murdoch.

A little more light between the sides came just before the hour mark following a big hit up by Hanna who offloaded to Erin Ramage which went to Rowan Ramage and there was just no stopping the flying winger who galloped half the paddock to score. Murdoch once again grateful for the offering in front of the sticks which she duly obliged by splitting.

Kelso weren’t keen to let their unbeaten season come to a halt without a fight and it was seasoned campaigner Halfpenny once again who was to benefit from a quick tap penalty close to the Broughton line which she didn’t require a written invitation to accept.

Any hopes of a comeback from the Poynder Park side were extinguished by three tries in the final ten minutes by the tourists.

Nicky Gaskell’s first try of the season saw the Broughton Centurion offer a Barbarian-style one handed finish before Lucy Hanna rounded off a fine performance with a well deserved five pointer of her own after a Murdoch dummy opened a fine channel for the flying full-back who swatted away the last line of defence to slide in at the posts. Murdoch remained on kicking duty to knock over another two points.

The final offering came from Rowan Ramage who went from rampaging to raging following an unhelpful challenge after she dived over the whitewash to collect her 16th try of the season so far. Thankfully the match official was on hand to diffuse the situation before Lorna Murdoch closed the scoring.

FT: Kelso 15-40 Broughton