Rugby: Melrose take sevens crown from Sonians

WATSONIANS reached the semi-finals of the Jed-Forest Sevens but a disappointing sevens season overall saw them pass on their Kings of the Sevens title to Melrose.

Twelve months ago at Riverside Park 'Sonians became the first team from outside of the Borders to lift the trophy, which is played for over ten events.

This time it was all about pride and the men from Myreside opened at Jed with a 24-10 victory over Gala. George Watson's College schoolboy Jack Ferguson was among the try scorers.

In the quarter-finals they performed well to see off Hawick. Max Learmonth led the way with two tries, while Ferguson and fellow teenager Jamie Forbes were also among the scorers.

'Sonians' built up a 21-0 lead in the last four tie with Selkirk, Richard Minto scoring two tries and Forbes one as the looked set for a final berth. It was not to be though, the Borderers fighting back superbly to win 31-26.

All the other local sides involved lost out in the first round. Haddington went out to Hawick, Stewart's Melville fought hard, but lost 33-12 to Selkirk and Edinburgh Accies lost 34-14 to Melrose despite two tries by Alex Blair.

Jed fought back to beat Boroughmuir, while Heriot's pushed Kelso before going down 21-10. In the end it all came down to the final between Selkirk and Melrose. Allan Dodds scored an extra-time winner for Melrose as they pipped their rivals 38-33.