Melrose take Peebles Sevens with a convincing performance

Published 30 Apr 2010 13:59 0 Comments

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THE strength of Borders rugby was no more noticeable than at the Tweed Homes Peebles Sevens last Sunday.

Melrose who had played 80 minutes in the cup final 24 hours earlier and Selkirk after a night match with potential league winners Currie were the best teams on view in front a 3000 strong crowd.

That is no disrespect to finalists Jed-Forest but the 54-7 scoreline tells it own tale.

Melrose put the cup final defeat by Ayr behind them and bagged 141 points in four ties, being given their sternest test by Selkirk.

Skipper Scott Wright said: "We were disappointed on Saturday to lose the cup final when, as we did today, we played some good stuff. But we said earlier in the week that we wanted to be 'up' for the Peebles sevens, and we were at The Gytes.

"There was no excuse. We knew what the score was and we wanted to win. It has been hard over the past few weeks not being able to send our strongest seven out.

"The Kings of the Sevens is a massive thing to us and we have not always been able to send out our best squad.

"It was vital for us to come here and win some points. It's going to take a lot for us to catch up. But you never know."

Melrose were always in control in the final to retain the cup and turned round 26-7 ahead, the Dodds brothers, Allan and Graeme, sharing the points with Callum Anderson and Malcolm Clapperton, on loan from Boroughmuir, scoring after the break.

In the final Ewan Ford (Kelso) wore a Melrose jersey, with Selkirk's Rory Banks on the bench, while Jed 'borrowed' Gala's Steve Cairns and Gregor Hunter.

The Jed score came from Lewis Young, with Chris Laidlaw adding the goal points, while Wight for Melrose added the Greenyards outfit's kicking points.

Selkirk almost put Melrose out, leading by 17-5 early in the second half of their semi-final, thanks to the indomitable Fraser Harkness.

But a hat-trick of tries from ex-Peebles player, Callum Anderson, who was named Player of the Tournament, ended the Selkirk challenge.

The sevens were never short of controversy either - and it involved Peebles, who lost to Jed in the semi-final.

There was unprecedented drama in the quarter-final when Darren Kerr scored a try three minutes into extra time to take Peebles into the last four against one of the Kings favourites, Watsonians.

Peebles led 28-7 at the break with a double from Neil Warnock and tries by James Oakes and Craig Hunter to a score from Mike Fedo. The home side were then under the cosh in the second half as Watsonians drew level through Mike Fedo (2) and Grant Somerville, Mike Ker adding the goal points.

But there was more drama to follow as Peebles were awarded a penalty. Craig Borthwick aimed at goal - do you kick in sevens? However, his drop kick was wide.

Yet Peebles fans need not have worried about the miss as Kerr was the extra man on the left for the clinching try.

Not even the intervention of the touchjudge and a few words from referee Iain Rodgerson after an altercation on the field could change a remarkable result.

But the Peebles surge, after their earlier win over Berwick, collapsed against Jed despite tries by Dale Clancy and James Oakes. The home side losing 26-10.

The earlier tries against Berwick were scored by Steve Gee, Neil Warnock, Donald Anderson and Donald Sangster.

First round

Stewart's Melville 22, President's 7 15; Jed-Forest 19, Biggar 5; Berwick 7, Peebles 38; Hawick 5, Watsonians 36; Gala 19, Hawick YM 14; Melrose 27, Boroughmuir 5; Selkirk 19, Haddington 7; Kelso 47, Langholm.

Second round Stewart's Melville 7, Jed-Forest 28; Peebles 33, Watsonians 28 (after extra time); Gala 7, Melrose 36; Selkirk 26, Kelso 7.

Semi-final

Jed-Forest 26, Peebles 10; Melrose 24, Selkirk 17.

Final

Jed-Forest 7, Melrose 54.

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