Schools rugby: Merchiston taste sevens joy ahead of London trip

In a thrilling final, Gavin Parker accounted for 16 of the Merchiston’s points against Academy by converting his own two tries and that of Angus Sinclair. The Plate competition was won by Strathallan who defeated Fettes College in the final.

At under-16 level, the Brewin Dolphin Cup winners George Watson’s College emerged as Cup winners, while the Plate competition was won by Robert Gordon’s College. In the other two Cup competitions Edinburgh Academy triumphed at under-15 level and in the youngest age level, under-14, North Berwick High School came through the rounds to finish as champions.

The Edinburgh circuit moves on to Goldenacre this weekend where George Heriot’s host their tournament on Saturday. In Glasgow, sevens rugby started last Wednesday with the Hutchesons’ Sevens at Auldhouse, won by Glasgow High School, who stage their own tournament tomorrow at Old Anniesland.

Sevens will also feature prominently this week in the Borders on Saturday when Hawick High School will be the venue for the south of Scotland schools tournament for S1, S2 and under-15 teams. All nine Borders schools will take part in what is an age-old competition in the heartland of the sevens game.

In 15-a-side rugby Carrick Academy came close to taking an independent schools scalp but at the end of an excellent match the Maybole side was on the wrong end of a 15-14 scoreline against Glasgow Academy..

The Brewin Dolphin Scottish Schools under-16 Bowl final will between Hawick High School and Madras College after Hawick beat Biggar High School 34-0 last Friday with tries from wing Ryan Elliot (2), lock McAuley Trotter, full-back Craig Glendinning, winger Aidan Anderson and flanker Colin Richardson. The final, to be played at Murrayfield, is scheduled for next week but elite under-16 programmes may force a switch.