Heriot’s clinch comeback win in final to sink Melrose hopes

Heriot’s produced a powerful performance against Melrose to win the Jed tournament, the final round of what has been a lengthy Kings of the Sevens competition this season, and which desperately needs a careful redesign.

The Goldenacre men, who had impressive displays from hooker Fraser Brown and former age grade players Colin Goudie and Cammy Ferguson, looked winners as they came through the first two rounds with ease, dismissing Hawick and then Edinburgh University before coming up against a Gala side that had despatched the host club Jed-Forest in extra time with a try by Ross Livingstone.

It was Livingstone who again seemed to be the saviour for Gala with a try that levelled the scores at 19-19 with only a minute of play left, but a final effort by Heriot’s ended with the former Stirling back row Jason Hill thundering over for the winning points to put the Goldenacre side into their second final this season.

Melrose almost hit a road block in the opening tie against a resilient Falkirk, but in the end the Greenyards side prevailed with a 3-2 try advantage. Then they beat Peebles 26-12 to set up a semi-final against Watsonians.

That tie produced a cracking game of sevens, with a yellow card for each side and a tied scoreline of 14-14 at full-time, but in extra time it was Melrose who found the winning score, a try by flanker Ross Ovens, to book their place in the final.

In the final it was Melrose who gained the early advantage with tries by Andrew Skeen and Scott McCormick for a 12-0 lead, but touchdowns from Ferguson and Goudie for Heriot’s levelled the scores at half-time. A second try from Ferguson put Heriot’s into the lead.

When Goudie added a second, converted by Wilson, the gap had extended to 12 points, Joe Hickman’s converted try completing Heriot’s win.