WATSONIANS became the first club outside the Borders to claim the Kings of the Sevens crown after finishing runners up to a triumphant Hawick side in yesterday's grand finale of the spring circuit at Jed-Forest.
The Myreside club had gone into the Jed Sevens with a four-point lead over Hawick and needed to get past the semi-finals to make sure of the title. In the event, Watsonians achieved their ambition by defeating fellow challengers and defending champi
ons, Selkirk, in the penultimate round with a 21-12 win to set up a repeat of last year's final against Hawick.
Fittingly both sides were strengthened by the return of key players. Hawick's Rory Hutton had been "advised" not to play at Earlston last Sunday after appearing in the Gala Sevens a day earlier, but was given official clearance to play for the Greens at Jed.
On the day Hutton contributed significantly to the Hawick win, scoring five tries in the tournament and showing just what an effective player he is. Sadly for relegated Hawick it was also likely to be his final appearance for the Greens because, as an Academy contracted player, he will be required to play for a first division side.
"Having Rory back was a big gain for us," said Hawick coach Derek Armstrong. "If we had had him all season we might not have gone down .
Watsonians, too, were boosted by the return of Andrew Skeen and a cameo appearance from their erstwhile Scotland centre Marcus Di Rollo. But the real performers were the regular core of players who have added quality to the Border circuit and raised the standard of the tournament.
The biggest personality to appear yesterday was the Fijian maestro, Waisale Serevi, who turned out in the colours of the Greenyards to help a young Melrose side. In the event his playmaking skills were evident but they were not enough to prevent Melrose losing 20-12 to Heriot's in the first round.
In the final it was Watsonians who struck first with a try from Eddie Howe, but a swift reply from player of the tournament Ryan Hogg and scores from Hutton and Greg Goodfellow put Hawick into a 19-5 lead. Di Rollo responded for Watsonians with a fine try but from a clever move Hawick finished with a try by Graham Hogg to make sure of victory, despite a last-second try for Watsonians by Skeen.
Results: First round: Kelso 12 Haddington 15, Watsonians 29 Gala 7, Peebles 0 Boroughmuir 41, Selkirk 17 Kirkcaldy 0, Dundee HSFP 0 Jed-Forest 19, Hawick 43 Stewart's-Melville 5, Edinburgh Accies 24 Berwick 19, Melrose 12 Heriot's 20. Second round: Haddington 0 Watsonians 36, Boroughmuir 7 Selkirk 36, Jed-Forest 0 Hawick 24, Edinburgh Accies 5 Heriot's 31. Semi-finals: Watsonians 21 Selkirk 12, Hawick 38 Heriot's 14. Final: Watsonians 15 Hawick 26.
Watsonians: G Brown, T Saena, M Fedo, E Howe, A Skeen, J Blackwood, Grant Sommerville. Subs used: T Callendar, A Skeen, M Di Rollo
Hawick: D Landels, R Hogg, M Robertson, G Goodfellow, G Hogg, R Hutton, S Anderson. Subs used: S Hogg, S Laidlaw.
Kings of the Sevens: 1, Watsonians 59; 2, Hawick 58; 3, Selkirk 52.
