THE rampaging Watsonians squad, which made it five successes out of 10 in the Ned Haig Kings of the Sevens series by bringing the curtain down on the circuit in defeating Jed-Forest 31-5 in the final at Riverside Park, sent out a lesson to Borders clubs on what they have to achieve to match their city neighbours.

It was a season of dominance by the city side which held on to its Kings title.

“We work hard and have used around 20 players,” said team manager David Harris.

“It has been a great season and we love the sevens. The boys love to play and there is a great team spirit. I am very proud of them.

“Kelso gave us a very hard game in the first round, and we kept our best form for the final.”

Watsonians’ commitment to the Borders circuit is second to none, as are the efforts of Boroughmuir and Edinburgh Accies - the capital clubs setting an example in the heart of local rugby.

Five victories, one runners-up spot, one semi-final and three quarter-finals was testament to Watsonians' dedication and prowess in a beleaguered sevens’ series hit by delayed league games.

But they, along with Boroughmuir and Accies, put the emphasis on the shorter game at the end of a long season.

On Saturday it was the third time in four seasons that the clubs had met in the final.

Two tries from Ben Robbins and one by Lewis Berg and two Ali Harris conversions put Watsonians 19-0 ahead at the break.

After the interval Berg scored twice again to seal the tie despite a Rory Marshall consolation try and Charlie McKill receiving a yellow card.

Jed called on Edinburgh Accies duo, Richard Mill and Jamie Sole, as injury replacements, while Watsonians fielded Darren Gillespie.

But the city side were in total control from the kick-off.

In the first of the semi-finals, Watsonians, who earlier defeated Kelso and Hamilton, knocked out Boroughmuir while Jed held off a late challenge from Edinburgh Accies in the other semi with a late Lewis Young try.

Gala showed their best form of the sevens’ series before losing to Edinburgh Accies but Hawick, Melrose, Peebles, Selkirk and Langholm offered little opposition, and it was left to Jed to sustain a real challenge.

The runners-up spots in the Kings series were filled by Boroughmuir, Edinburgh Accies and Melrose.

Results

First round: Kelso 7, Watsonians 10; Peebles 5, Hamilton 38; Hawick 5, Boroughmuir 14; Langholm 5, Border Park 38; Selkirk 0, Edinburgh Accies 45; Gala 19, Heriot’s 17; Melrose 38, Berwick 0; Jed-Forest 38, Musselburgh 0.

Second round: Watsonians 41, Hamilton 5; Boroughmuir 38, Border Park 12; Edinburgh Accies 19, Gala 12; Melrose 7, Jed-Forest 24.

Semi-finals: Watsonians 19, Boroughmuir 12; Edinburgh Accies 17, Jed-Forest 24.

Final: Watsonians 31, Jed-Forest 5.

Watsonians: C. McKill, E. Millar, D. Gillespie, A. Harris, A. Skeen, L. Berg, J. Rowland, C. Bell, B. Robbins, H. Fisher.