Rugby: Heriot’s and Learmonth to take things to the Max at Sevens showpiece

Heriot’s player Max Learmonth hopes his side can pick up where they left off at Gala last week when they take part in the Aberdeen Asset Management Melrose Sevens at the Greenyards tomorrow.

The event is the showpiece of the Kings of the Sevens circuit in the Borders and Berwick lad Learmonth is looking forward to carrying on a love affair with the abbreviated form of the game that started when he was a teenager.

He said: “I got my first taste of the circuit when I was just 16 at Berwick and then I was lucky enough to be involved with Watsonians when they won the overall circuit in 2009.

“We have some good sevens players and were pleased to get to the final at Gala last week and, apart from a couple of mistakes, we thought we could have beaten Jed [they lost 28-26]. Melrose is the one everyone wants to play in and with another week of sevens training under our belts we hope we can do well.”

Heriot’s face Langholm before a potentially tough second-round tie with English giants Saracens. The other local clubs involved in the event are Currie, Boroughmuir, Watsonians, Stewart’s Melville and Edinburgh Accies.

In round one, Currie face Stirling County, Boroughmuir take on Glasgow Hawks, Watsonians face Hamilton and Stewart’s Melville play Peebles. Accies have a bye and await Kelso or Gala in round two. The event kicks off at 11.30am.