Biggar is better at the 'Burn

Published 14 May 2010 12:04 0 Comments

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BIGGAR retained the Walkerburn Sevens cup in a thrilling 125th Sevens final at Caberston last Saturday.

The winners were drawn against Melrose in the first round, a somewhat daunting prospect, but the Cup Final commitments the following Sunday, not too mention the fact that Melrose were also fielding a seven at the Jed Sevens on the same day, meant that the Melrose team were understrength.

Nevertheless, the Biggar boys scored a resounding win by 45-0, with tries coming from Mike McKeand (2), Scott Watson (2), Ewan McAlpine, Conor Lavery and David MacArthur, with five converted.

Biggar's next opponents came in the unknown quantity of St Boswells.

Having disposed of Penicuik comfortably in the first round, Biggar knew they couldn't be complacent going into this tie. Tries in the first half from Mike McKeand, Lavery and Iain Renwick, all converted, gave Biggar a 21-0 lead going into half-time.

St Boswells scored two tries of their own to make Biggar a bit uncomfortable.

However, two more tries from Chris McKeand eased Biggar minds and they won 33-12.

Biggar faced another unfamiliar team in Gala YM in the semis. Again, Biggar were the first off the mark with two tries from Chris McKeand and one from Renwick.

Gala hit back and the half-time score was 19-5.

Renwick continued the scoring for Biggar in the second half to grab two more for himself to complete his hat-trick; but not to be outdone, McKeand also grabbed a third for himself in the closing play of the game to end the game 36-5 and to win a spot in the final.

The club was not represented by just the 10 guys of the Sevens though. A match was played between Biggar Ladies and Melrose Ladies before the final.

However, the ladies couldn't equal their male counterparts' success and, despite a good performance, lost out to Melrose by five tries from Emma Robertson and debutant Katie's two tries.

Biggar faced a young Murrayfield Wanderers team in the final. Murrayfield had impressed in their semi-final against the Pigbarians, a select team which included Biggar's own Ally Walker, who managed to bag himself a couple of tries for the team.

A few mistakes from Biggar saw Murrayfield open up a 7-0 lead. Biggar, though, did counter this with two tries of their own from Chris McKeand and Warnock to go into the second half with a 12-7 lead.

Murrayfield were next on the scoresheet with a well worked try. Biggar responded once again when McAlpine went over to take the lead at 17-14.

This lead was then further extended when McKeand touched down to make the score 22-14.

From the kick-off, however, Murrayfield ran the ball from deep and, having found the gap, managed to touchdown under the posts to make the score 22-21 to Biggar.

This was too little too late for the Edinburgh side as the referee blew his whistle for the end of the match.

The presentation ceremony followed shortly after the final, when Warnock received the winners' trophy on behalf of the team.

This wasn't the only silverware that came back to Biggar, however, as Chris McKeand also walked away with the Player of the Tournament award.

There was disappointment that Musselburgh called off on the Friday night and Lasswade and Hawick Harlequins failed to turn up.

Results:

Preliminary round

Haddington 14, St Boswells 22.

First round

Melrose 12, Biggar 36; Penicuik 18, Walkerburn 10; Peebles 0, Gala YM 22; Pigbarians 14, Hawick YM 12; Earlston 12, Preston Lodge 0; Selkirk A 14, Murrayfield Wanderers 21.

Second round

St Boswells 12, Biggar 32; Penicuik 0, Gala YM 43; Pigbarians 54, Earlston 0; Murrayfield Wanderers 36, President's Seven 7.

Semi-finals

Biggar 36, Gala YM 5; Pigbarians 17, Murrayfield Wanderers 22.

Final

Biggar 22, Murrayfield Wanderers 21.

Biggar: Alan Warnock, Ewan McAlpine, Conor Lavery, Iain Renwick, Scott Watson, Michael and Chris Mckeand, David MacArthur, Kevin Anderson and Douglas Notman.

This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 14 May 10

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