Hosts miss Greenyards guests

MELROSE have managed to avoid the top-ranked guest teams for the first time in a while in their half of the draw for Saturday's 128th tournament.

The draw, made at the Greenyards on Saturday night, has, however, thrown up an appetising series of Borders battles for those aiming for a day-long involvement, with Hawick and Gala meeting in the first round and the winner meeting the hosts in the second. The winner of that tie will draw the side that emerges from Stirling County versus Peebles and the winner's tie with Selkirk.

Newly-formed club Hong Kong Scottish mark their debut in the tournament by meeting the winners of Boroughmuir v West of Scotland, while the holders and favourites, Hamilton from South Africa - who beat Melrose in last year's quarter-finals - have been drawn in the bottom half, as have second favourites Waikato from New Zealand.

Cape Town-based Hamilton, who are South Africa's oldest club and were named after a Scottish side, are the reigning Super A League champions. They beat Durban Old Boys 19-16 in Durban on Saturday and will arrive in Scotland on Wednesday. Biggar and Stewart's Melville are bidding for the chance to take advantage of any jet-lag and bring them back to earth in Saturday's second round.

QUBE GB Melrose Sevens (first tie 11.30am): First round: Dundee v Watsonians, Boroughmuir v West of Scotland, Stirling County v Peebles, Hawick v Gala, Glasgow Hawks v Aberdeen GSFP, Currie v Falkirk, Langholm v Edinburgh Accies, Biggar v Stewart's Melville.

Second round: Dundee or Watsonians v Jed-Forest, Boroughmuir or West of Scotland v Hong Kong Scottish, Stirling County or Peebles v Selkirk, Hawick or Gala v Melrose, Glasgow Hawks or Aberdeen GSFP v Kelso, Currie or Falkirk v Waikato, Langholm or Edinburgh Accies v Heriot's, Biggar or Stewart's Melville v Hamilton (SA).