Peeblesshire News | Sport | 'We could not do without the sevens'

Saturday, 17th May, 2008

Published: Friday, 25th April, 2008 09:00

'We could not do without the sevens'

By Atholl Innes

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THE Peebles Rugby Director this week stressed the importance of the sevens the club.

Thousands will pack The Gytes on Sunday for the Tweed Homes tournament, and Bob Hogarth believes that clubs would struggle to survive without them.

“We could not do without the sevens. We have worked hard at raising the profile of our event for last 15 to 20 years.

“It is a good day out with lots to do for kids and families as well as the rugby. We just hope for decent weather and get a good crowd.

“Over the years we (Mark Clancy) have worked well to raise the profile. We make thousands of pounds and the club needs all the money that it can get nowadays.

Laid on for the fans this weekend, apart from the rugby, will be entertainment, among which will be an Army assault course and a giant climbing frame,

“The Royal Navy will also be bringing a flight simulator and there will be coaching from Edinburgh pro players,” said Clancy.

On the field, the action will be thick and fast. Hogarth paid tribute to the city clubs, if not Boroughmuir, who called off last year and were not invited back.

“Watsonians are a credit to the Kings of the Sevens,” he said, “ and we have Haddington and Musselburgh and I think we have good mix.”

The Peebles tournament has now settled into a Sunday. “I agree that it is difficult for the teams playing Saturday and Sunday. Sometimes the Sunday teams change, but we do get strong teams at Peebles.

“We are getting to the end of Kings of the Sevens, and the clubs that are competing will always send their strongest squads.”

Hogarth has not given much thought to playing more sevens in the autumn. “At this time of year, I think they work all right,” he said.

“The problem is when clubs overlap with 15-a-side rugby, the whole fixture thing is being looked at now.”

This weekend, Saturday, also sees the Langholm centenary sevens where Peebles play Heriot’s.

Winners in our competition to win tickets for the Peebles Sevens were Morag Stark and Sally Thorburn, both of Peebles. We hope they have a good day out.

Last weekend, Peebles Colts beat Kelso Harlequins in the opening round of the Gala Wanderers Sevens before losing to the hosts.

The tournament was won by Hawick Wanderers, who beat Melrose Wasps in the final.

The Remax Properties Penicuik Sevens takes place tomorrow, Saturday, at 1 p.m. The draw is:

Walkerburn v. North Berwick; Forrester v Dunbar; Boroughmuir v. Ross High; Dalkeith v. Trinity; Edinburgh Northern v. Inverleith; Edinburgh Accies v. Lasswade; Penicuik v. Moray House; Hawick Linden v. Portobello; Hawick Harlequins v. Lismore.

Trophies and medals will be presented immediately after the finals by Mrs Jayne Oliver, of Remax.

The firsts are playing at the Langholm 7s on Saturday, April 26. Transport leaves at 12.30 p.m. Team from: Donald Anderson, C.Hunter, C.Farmer, D.Clancy (car), David Anderson, D.Boughtwood, N.Hogarth (car), A.Moffat, N.Cruikshank, D.Sangster (car).

Also on Saturday, a seconds 7s pool is playing at the SDU 7s, Jedburgh. Departure time has not yet been finalised. Team from: G.Franks, G.Hogarth (car), D.Kerr, K.Nisbet, (car), D.Brown, R.Wilson, R.McConnell, P.Stewart (car), and two others.

On Sunday, April 27, for the home 7s at The Gytes, the pool is: Donald Anderson, C.Hunter, C.Farmer, D.Clancy, David Anderson, D.Boughtwood, N.Hogarth, A.Moffat, N.Cruikshank, D.Sangster.

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