Melrose see off Accies to make late bid for Kings of Sevens title

The win by Melrose, following their victory at Peebles last Sunday, puts the Greenyards club in fourth place, with two tournaments, Earlston and Jed-Forest, remaining.

Only 14 teams made it to Gala, resulting in only six matches in the first round and two clubs, the hosts and Selkirk, being given byes into the quarter-finals. It proved the kiss of death for both Borders side, who came in cold against sides already up to speed. Gala succumbed to Edinburgh University 14-12 after leading 12-0 at half-time while Selkirk went down 24-10 to Hawick.

Edinburgh Accies, with Scotland under-20 flanker David Denton and winger David Rattray impressing, saw off Watsonians in the second round then proved much too strong for Edinburgh University to win the first semi 29-10. In the other semi Melrose cruised past Hawick despite two second-half tries by Greens winger Craig Robertson, the former New Year Sprint winner.

Then in the final Melrose had the title wrapped up by half-time through tries by Scott Wight (2) and Craig Jackson. Acccies perked up in the second half with tries by Tom Brown and Tom Drennan to match efforts by Jamie Murray and John Dalziel but it was not enough.

First round: Jed-Forest 21 Edinburgh University 26, Kelso 17 Edinburgh Accies 22, Watsonians 34 Peebles 14, Haddington 7 Hawick 45, Melrose 46 Stirling University 5, Ardrossan Accies 31 Berwick 0. Second round: Gala 12 Edinburgh University 14, Edinburgh Accies 28 Watsonians 22, Hawick 24 Selkirk 10, Hawick 24 Selkirk 10, Melrose 17 Ardrossan 12. Semi-finals: Edinburgh University 10 Edinburgh Accies 29, Hawick 15 Melrose 28. Final: Edinburgh Accies 10 Melrose 33

Edinburgh Accies: D Denton, A Lamb, T Drennan, E Bonner, R Bonner, A Blair, T Brown. Sub used: D Rattray

Melrose: J Dalziel, J Murray, G Dodds, C Jackson, S Wight, A Dodds, C Anderson. Subs used: B Allen, B Dick, G Runciman.