Peebles spring surprise to win their own tournament

Published on Sunday 24 April 2011 20:21

THE Kings of the Sevens series will go down to the wire after Peebles produced a major surprise to win their own Sevens yesterday at The Gytes.

They defeated the other surprise package, Edinburgh Accies, by 34-12 in the final to follow their wins in 2001 and 2002.

Accies could not match Peebles' pace in a thrilling try which delighted the big home support.

Donald Anderson and Paul Loudon exchanged tries before Anderson complete a hat-trick with two more and Dale Clancy scored for a 20-5 interval lead.

Iain Berthinussen scored on the restart before veteran Drew Moore and Dale Clancy went over for the winning tries.

Jed-Forest still lead the table with four tournaments to play on 40 points, followed by Selkirk on 32 and Melrose on 28.

Peebles scored 120 points in their opening ties against Haddington, Musselburgh and former Kings, Selkirk, while Accies knocked out Hawick YM, Gala and favourites Jed.

The Riverside club maintained its Kings challenge by winning the Langholm Sevens on Saturday. Jed beat a President's Seven, Peebles and Selkirk on its way to the final before ousting the surprise club, Dumfries, 42-12 in the final. It was Dumfries' first Borders sevens under coach Sean McGauchie and former referee, John Steele, the club's president.

"We never expected to do so well. We have never even trained and will not be at any other tournaments," said Steele. "I was simply amazed."

Dumfries have been invited to the Kelso tournament on Saturday, but rejected the move, said administrator Norman Anderson, as the club did not feel they were good enough.

Chisholm's try and conversion gave Jed the lead in the final before Sam Middleton cut the gap. Darren Gillespie and Lewis Young stretched the lead to 21-5 and Chisholm's three conversions proved crucial. In the second half, tries by Ross Goodfellow, Lewis Young and Gregor Young sealed victory despite Graham Gemmell's late score.

Langholm results

First round: Kelso 14, Melrose 15; Carlisle Barbarians 42, President's V11 7; Hawick 14, Dumfries 19; Gala 14, Edinburgh University 24; Selkirk 21, Edinburgh Accies 12; Langholm 41, Berwick 7; Jed-Forest 29, Langholm President's V11 5; Peebles 19, Watsonians 7.

Second round: Melrose 24, Barbarians 12; Dumfries 22, Edinburgh University 0; Selkirk 26, Langholm 12; Jed-Forest 19, Peebles 15.

Semi-finals: Melrose 7, Dumfries 24, Melrose 7; Selkirk 10, Jed-Forest 15.

Final: Dumfries 12, Jed-Forest 42.

Dumfries: T Middleton, S Diez, S Middleton, G Johnstone. G Gemmell, R Steele, K Henderson, V Santala, M McLachie, N Darling.

Jed-Forest: D Gillespie, M Weekley, A Nagle, R Goodfellow, I Chisholm, G Young. L. Young, D Grieve, J Hogg, G Cottrell.Peebles results

First round: Biggar 7, Selkirk 22; Haddington 5, Peebles 45; Musselburgh 24, Lasswade 21; Berwick 12, Jed-Forest 26; Langholm 0, Melrose 54; Kelso 19, Gala 24 (after extra time); Hawick YM 12, Edinburgh Accies 33.

Second round: Selkirk 28, Hawick 10; Peebles 48, Musselburgh 14; Jed-Forest 26, Melrose 19; Gala 22, Edinburgh Accies 26

Semi-finals: Selkirk 12, Peebles 27; Jed-Forest 26, Edinburgh Accies 31.

Final: Peebles 34, Edinburgh Accies 12.

Peebles: A Warnock, E Jackson, N Warnock, D Moore, D McLean, D Clancy, Donald Anderson, D. Hall, David Anderson, D Wills.

Edinburgh Accies: T Drennan, A Lamb, R Snape, E Bonner, R Bonner, P Loudon, I Berthinussen, J Letham, M Coupar, J Pecqueur.