Victory for Melrose boosts King of the Sevens hopes

The Kings of the Sevens title will be decided at the final tournament this weekend at Jedburgh after Melrose won the Selkirk tournament on Saturday at Philiphaugh by beating Watsonians 38-17 in the final.

Bruce Colvine: Added try. Picture: SNS

It was a victory that delighted their coach John Dalziel, whose sevens’ squads have been depleted by league and cup commitments.

“It has been a long, hard season, and to win two of the past three tournaments showed the total character of the team,” he said.

“Our players have really gelled the last couple of weeks and they have stuck together and supported each other. The tough season has taken its toll.”

Melrose will be looking to add the Jed cup to wins at Kelso and Selkirk, and the players know what they have to do as Jed-Forest head the table with 54 points ahead of Watsonians on 49 with Melrose in third place on 41.

Scott McKean and Fraser Thomson each scored two tries and Nyle Godsmark one before Melrose ran away with the cup, to follow their success at Kelso, in the second half with scores from Bruce Colvine, David Colvine and Richard Mill, who also added the vital goal points.

There was consolation for Watsonians when McKean collected the Player-of-the-Tournament award.

In the first of the semi-finals, it took an extra-time try from Joe Helps to knock out the hosts while the second was a thriller with Reiss Cullen scoring the crucial try for his side after Watsonians had twice come from behind.