Fifers find form to crush hosts after thrilling run to Stirling final

Howe of Fife upset the form book by overrunning the hosts in the final of the Ondeo Stirling Sevens yesterday.

The Fifers had been involved in two thrillers prior to overcoming Stirling County 45-21 in the final, pipping a strong Dundee outfit in a semi-final encounter that went to extra time, and just edging out Aberdeen in a thrilling quarter-final, nicking that match 19-17 with a last-ditch score.

In the final, Howe ran in seven tries against a County side that had themselves pulled off an upset when they defeated Boroughmuir, many spectators’ tip for the title, in another close tie.

Howe’s points came courtesy of four tries from Iain Wilson, a brace for Girvin Imrie, one of which he converted, and one for Angus Guthrie, George Horne adding the rest of the points with the boot. Stirling countered with two touchdowns by Matt Lamb and one from Ben Addison, with Danny Gilmour converting all three.

On Saturday, Hawick celebrated their own gala day with a fifth-successive win in a stunning final against Jed-Forest.

But the victory left coach Phil Leck with two more injuries as he juggles Wednesday night’s Border League final against Gala and the drive to win the Kings of the Sevens title.

“We showed just how we can play after a poor start to the season. We showed a lot of passion and we need to take that away from home,” he said.

In the final, Hawick crushed Jed, leaders of the Kings of the Sevens table after their third successive final, and rattled up 140 points in only four ties.

Jed had the consolation of a late try from Gregor Young, but by then the competition was beyond them as a hungry and aggressive Hawick ripped them apart.

The game was won by half-time with tries from Greg Cottrell (2), Keith Davies and Bruce McNeil. Gary Johnstone’s touchdown and Cottrell’s hat-trick completed the rout.

Kings holders, Melrose, have a lot of work to do to hold on to their title after losing again to Jed.

The sides met again in the final at the Berwick tournament yesterday and Jed boosted their title hopes still further by taking the cup 26-21 with a Lewis Young try in extra time. But Melrose are still in with a shout of the Kings crown after getting their season back on track.

In the final, Nick McGrath and Ross Goodfellow shared tries in the first half while referee Iain Heard sent Joe Helps and Michael Weekly to the sinbin.

Helps and Bruce Colvine and then Ian Chisholm and Young levelled the scores before he clinched the sudden-death victory.