THERE was no sense of déjà vu in Nottingham's 32-20 British and Irish Cup win over Melrose at the Greenfields on Saturday.

UP AND RUNNING: Andy Forsyth on the way to scoring Nottingham's opening try at The Greenyards. PIC: Alison Bowden.

For the second time in a week, the Green and Whites overcame the two-time defending Scottish Premiership champions.

Bagging the four-try bonus-point win, however, is where the similarities stop.

There was none of the free-flowing, point-a-minute rugby that Nottingham produced at Meadow Lane to storm to a 54-24 victory in their first meeting.

No, this was a triumph forged by hard graft and sheer persistence to keep their hopes alive in the cross-border competition.

Melrose led the RFU Championship third-placed side 6-3 at half-time.

At the same stage eight days earlier, Nottingham had already bagged the bonus point with a four-try first-half blitz that started in the second minute.

Centre Andy Forsyth, captain Brent Wilson, fly half James Arlidge and Alex Lewington all ran in tries to overcome the Borderers.

Nottingham remain third in Pool 8, one point behind Doncaster after the Knights were upstaged 30-29 by Welsh Principality side Llandovery.

The Green and Whites resume their Cup campaign against Doncaster in mid-January at Castle Park.

Nottingham Rugby 32 (Forsyth, Wilson, Arlidge, Lewington Tries; Lynn 2, Arlidge Conv; Lynn, Arlidge Pen) Melrose 20 (Visser 2 Tries; Skeen 2 Conv; Skeen, Helps Pen)