Borders sent out a message of defiance in defeat at Netherdale on Friday night.

More than 4,000 fans – three times the average gate – filled the ground for the doomed side’s latest Magners League match against Ulster.

It was an attempt to persuade the SRU to change their decision to axe the team at the end of the season.

Unfortunately the team could not live up to the occasion, going behind within two minutes to Stephen Ferris’s try and leaking 14 more points in injury time thanks to tries from Andy Maxwell and Bryn Cunningham.

David Humphreys kicked the rest of the visitors’ points with Borders’ fly-half Steve Jones replying with three penalties.

But Borders could not convert their periods of pressure into tries and the late tries gave the final scoreline a flattering look.