The Maroons, however, were praised for their commitment to a sevens circuit that needed a shot in the arm, but no matter what the officials decided, there was never going to be any difference to the overall outcome to the 123rd Netherdale tournament on Saturday.

Melrose were streets ahead of the opposition despite a slow start and finished with a total of 124 points in four ties – and played with an unbeatable vigour and a bit to spare.

One could only surmise how other sides will compete against a Melrose squad packed with pace and the steadying influence of Andrew Skeen, who admitted two weeks ago looking forward to the sevens and on Saturday admitted: “It’s great fun.” Melrose led the Borders challenge while Hawick and Gala played their part in an otherwise open tournament. But it will be Watsonians, previous Kings of the Sevens winners, who look to be the main threat from the city.

For Melrose, who swept to victory with a series of performances in the Five Star Taxis Gala Sevens to show that the Scottish 15-a-side Scottish champions will be difficult to dislodge as Kings of the Sevens title holders.

The 35-19 win over Watsonians in the final followed on Melrose Wasps’ successes at the Borders semi-junior final and Kelso Harlequins Sevens to make it a winning weekend for the club with the promise of more to follow in the next six weeks.

It was Melrose’s first win in the Gala Sevens since 2011 to follow its success in 2010, and was reward for handling skills, sevens vision and excellent support work, which was in abundance across the 10-man squad despite having to add Gala’s Euan Dods and Gavin Young for the final due to injuries to Graeme Dodds and Damien Hoyland.

“We were sluggish to start at Gala, but we are very pleased overall. You could say that we looked lazy early doors, but it does take a while to get going in the first tournaments,” said Rugby Director Mike Dalgetty.

“But as a club, we want to win everything that we enter, just the way we are, and long may it last.” Dalgetty heaped praise on the players. “The boys are confident and playing well, and there is a lot of quality there. Things are good at the moment.

“They are a good bunch and we have been working hard all year”, but he warned: “We shall need to be a lot better on Saturday (at the Melrose Sevens).” Coach John Dalziel added: “I thought that we played some superb rugby in the semi-final and final after a lethargic start, and now we know what we have to do at our own tournament.” Melrose cruised through their pool before ending the challenge of holders Gala in the semi-finals. In the final, it was all square at the interval, Scott McKean and Mike Ker and Grant Runciman and Joe Helps sharing tries.

Melrose seized the initiative after the break with scores by Richard Mill, Bruce Colvine and Austin Lockington to end the city challenge, and the boot of Skeen did the rest despite a score from Ramsay Young.

Two tries in the semis by Colvine laid the foundation for Melrose, who two weeks previously had pipped Gala for the Premiership title. Scores by Grant Somerville and Craig Dods kept the host club in contention, but tries by Mill and Callum Anderson were crucial for the visitors.

Hopes of an all-Borders final ended when Hawick, unbeaten in the pool, lost out to a threatening Watsonians, for whom McKean and Ker played vital roles.

There was disappointment for Selkirk in the Bowl final, losing 24-19 to Heriot’s after extra time. The Souters could have won the game with a penalty at goal, but instead elected to play the ball and lost possession and the tie to a score by Gavin Parker.

The circuit now moves on to Melrose with the final tournament at Jed-Forest on May 17…arguably too many tournaments in a short space of time after a long, gruelling season.

Results - Pool 1: Gala 49. Boroughmuir 7; Gala 26, Selkirk 14; Boroughmuir 14, Selkirk 17.

Pool 2: Melrose 35, Peebles 10; Melrose 26, Jed-Forest 15; Peebles 19, Jed-Forest 5.

Pool 3: Watsonians 26, Kelso 12; Watsonians 33, Glasgow Hawks 0; Kelso 28, Glasgow Hawks 14.

Pool 4 Hawick 19, Edinburgh Accies 17; Hawick 26, Heriot’s 15; Edinburgh Accies, 19, Heriot’s 26.

Semi-finals Gala 17, Melrose 28; Watsonians 31, Hawick 12.

Final Melrose 35, Watsonians 19.

Bowl Final. Selkirk 19, Heriot’s 24 (after extra time).

Plate final. Edinburgh Accies 21, Boroughmuir 14.

Melrose: E. Dods, R.Mill, G. Runciman, B. Colvine, A. Skeen, G. Young, C. Anderson, J. Helps, A. Dodds, A. Lockington.

Watsonians: J. Leathaua, T. Hart, C. Scott, R. Young, M. Ker, A. Ledingham, S. McKean, N. Irvine-Hess, D.Johnson, C. Smith.