Kelso Sevens: Watsonians take first ever Kelso trophy

Watsonians underlined their commitment to sevens rugby by winning the Kelso tournament for the first time in their history with victory over Jed-Forest in what was a repeat of last Sunday’s Peebles Sevens final and in so doing moved into third place in the Kings of the Sevens race.

Jed-Forest, however, remain in the lead and with just three rounds remaining in the competition, the Riverside men are still odds on to win a first ever title. But yesterday at Poynder Park their game showed flaws and it was Watsonians who looked the best equipped side for the short game.

Watsonians came through their group with wins over Selkirk and the guest side, Dansk Vikings, and then with two tries from hooker Paul Tuala eased their way into the final with a 24-7 win over a Hawick side that was unable to compete against the Myresiders.

For their part, Jed-Forest were winners of Group C but then faced their closest rivals in the Kings of the Sevens race, Melrose, in the second of the semi-finals. Melrose, who endured a punishing match against Edinburgh Accies that required six minutes of extra time, seemed to have their semi-final secured when Fraser Thomson roared in for a decisive try. But in a thrilling finish Darren Gillepsie equalised the scores with a try, leaving Ian Chisholm to kick the winning goal.

Then, in a tense final Watsonians and Jed-Forest were level at half time with the scores at 14-14, Jack Ferguson and Scott McKean having bagged converted tries for the Myresiders and Chisholm and Lewis Young doing likewise for Jed. But a brace of tries from Mark Rennie and a winning score from Harris Grant and a fourth conversion from Ker, sandwiched between Jed tries from Chisholm and Darren Gillespie gave Watsonians their first Kelso Sevens title.

Group A: Selkirk 22 Dansk Vikings 7; Dansk Vikings 19 Watsonians 22; Selkirk 10 Watsonians 26.

Group B: Berwick 5 Kelso 45; Berwick 7 Hawick 50; Hawick 24 Kelso 21.

Group C: Jed-Forest 43 Langholm 0; Gala 38 Langholm 0; Gala 7 Jed-Forest 33.

Group D: Melrose 26 Peebles 5; Edinburgh Accies 49 Peebles 5; Edinburgh Accies 24 Melrose 29 (aet).

Semi finals: Watsonians 24 Hawick 7; Jed-Forest 19 Melrose 17.

Final: Watsonians 33 Jed-Forest 28.