Colts win Border Semi Junior League for first time ever

A packed out Gytes was treated to a feast of competitive rugby with the two best sides in the league going against each other.

In a tightly fought contest, Peebles emerged the victors with a 52-34 win against Morpeth.

Cammy Boak, Louis Whyte and Ewan Hunter all scored a brace of tries and James Thomson put in a man of the match performance.

Peebles started strongly with Kell MacIver and Ollie Furness making an early impact with the ball. Peebles drew first blood when Hunter crashed over for the opening score which was converted by Thomson.

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The score widened when Boak finished off some excellent handling down the right flank to burst over. Thomson slotted the conversion between the sticks.

Morpeth were not there to simply make up the numbers and wrestled back possession with their fly half kicking in behind the Peebles line. Morpeth chased through, gathered the ball and won the sprint to the line for their opening try.

The visitors then closed Peebles' lead once again when the ball was spilled by the hosts and Morpeth got the ball wide to release their winger to score a well-taken try.

Peebles managed to keep their cool and trust their game plan. Aiden McDowell and Robbie Hardie continued to make inroads into the Morpeth pack, with MacIver and Ruaridh Johnson also having fine games.

After a great phase of play sparked by Alec Sellar from the base of a ruck, Ruaridh Smith smashed his way through for Peebles' third try. It was converted once again by Thomson.

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Morpeth then hit back with a further try, converted before the half-time whistle went. Peebles ahead 21-17 at the break.

The second half started with Peebles launching another attack. Liam Forsyth and Callum BG were effective with ball in hand, while Dylan Greens was working hard on the wing.

The first try of the second half was then scored by Hunter, converted by Thomson. Then just like Rocky Balboa, Morpeth rose from the canvass to close the gap once again.

MacIver then managed to dislodge Morpeth ball. Sellar got the ball wide to replacement winger Whyte who broke up the left flank, beating four defenders with his raw pace and power to score another cracking try.

Morpeth then spotted space out wide, their fly half putting in a perfectly weighted cross-field kick for their winger to pounce on, which they converted too.

Thomson, having one of his best games in a Peebles jersey, kept his cool under pressure to put in his own cross-field kick which Whyte fielded to score his second of the day.

Morpeth hit back with another well-taken try to bring the score to 38-34 with the game in the balance.

The visitors then nearly took the lead when they only had Forsyth to beat. He disrupted the two vs one opportunity and was shown a yellow card for his efforts. Morpeth could not capitalise on their extra man, and Peebles showed great character to pull away to win the game.

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Junior Burquele, coming on to replace Hardie, took the ball hard into contact and then scored a crucial try which broke Morpeth’s momentum and fuelled the spirits of the Peebles team. It was converted by James Hodgkiss.

The final try of the game was scored by Boak after the winger once again showed his raw pace to sprint over. The conversion by Hodgkiss was good.

When the final whistle went, the boys' names were cemented into the history books forever.

On what it means to him and his team-mates to be the first ever Peebles Colts team to win the Borders Semi Junior League, Ruaridh Smith said: “It’s for the club and for the community”

The man of the match award was given to Thomson.