Third sevens title for Melrose after one-sided final at Kelso

Melrose scored their third success on the Borders Sevens circuit this season after defeating Jed-Forest in an unexpectedly one-sided final to retain the Kelso title at Poynder Park yesterday.

The Greenyards side, who had an energy-sapping Border League final against Selkirk at Peebles on Wednesday night, looked to be feeling the effects of this match as they struggled to overcome Watsonians in the first round before emerging with a 22-14 victory.

Then against a lively Edinburgh University side that had pace aplenty Melrose again came from behind to score an eventually comfortable win over the student team to claim a semi-final place against Edinburgh Accies.

The Raeburn Place team had produced the shock of the tournament by defeating "Kings of the Sevens" Selkirk 33-0, with a four-try contribution from the swift and elusive Jonny Letham. Accies then made life difficult for Melrose, but were eventually put to the sword by the Greenyards men.

For their part Jed-Forest had looked on fire as they worked their way through the rounds, dismissing last Sunday's champions, Peebles in the first round and then knocking out an unfamiliar-looking Hawick.

Then, in the semi final, a hat-trick of tries by their elegant winger Lewis Young helped Jed to a 29-5 win over the host club, Kelso.

In the final the Riverside team took an early 7-5 lead. Melrose, however, found the rhythm and poise that won them their own tournament and pulled away with ease, Callum Anderson running in four tries, Allan Dodds completing a hat-trick and Fraser Thomson and John Dalziel claiming one apiece.