Melrose too good for Gala to win Kelso Sevens

Melrose claimed their first Kings of the Sevens title this season by winning the Kelso tournament at Poynder Park with an emphatic victory over Gala that lifts the Greenyards men to fourth place in the overall standings.

Bruce Colvine helped Melrosae win the Kelso Sevens. Picture: Ian Georgeson

Melrose, playing without their Scotland under-20 squad members, looked the likely winners, after knocking out the Kings of the Sevens leaders, Jed-Forest, in the first round and then disposing of Boroughmuir in the quarter-finals with a 33-7 win.

But it was in the second of the semi-finals that Melrose laid down their title winning credentials by overwhelming a Watsonians seven that has performed well on the Borders circuit, try doubles by Richard Mill and Jason Baggott helping the Greenyards men to an unexpectedly high 52-5 win over the Myreside team.

Gala, meanwhile, came through the top half of the draw by defeating Hawick 24-19, after extra time, in the first round before producing a a startling 41-12 victory over Edinburgh Accies in the quarters. Then in the semi-finals Gala had too much pace for hosts Kelso in their 24-7 win.

In the final Gala struck first with a Keith Young try but thereafer it was Melrose who dominated with fast sevens rugby that gave them a 29-5 interval lead. Then, despite a try for Gala by Rex Jeffrey after the break, Melrose piled on the scores as Bruce Colvine completed his hat-trick and player of the tournament Mill his brace for a 57-19 victory.