Sonians Shock hosts to take title

Watsonians scored a last-gasp try through Charlie Mckill to beat the hosts in a dramatic final of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Melrose Sevens at The Greenyards yesterday.

The Borders Kings of the Sevens holders showed character and resilience to lift the Ladies Centenary Cup, and take the lead in the series.

The teams turned round 7-7 with Scott Mckean and Ross Mccann exchanging tries, with Ali Harris and Craig Jackson adding the conversions. Rory Steele and Mccann again exchanged tries, and the game was evenly poised before Mckill scored in the corner and was awarded the try after the referee consulted the touch judge.

In the first of the semis, Melrose overpowered Edinburgh Accies and led 17-0 at half-time with tries from Austin Lockington, Fraser Thomson, who was also yellow-carded, and Mccann.

Accies offered little after the break and Patrick Anderson’s try and Mccann’s second eased the hosts into the final.

Marr proved the surprise side of the afternoon, and it took a late try by Mckean, following scores by Harris and Mckill, for Watsonians to seal their final place – and this after Marr had led 14-0 at the break.

Earlier, Melrose outgunned Boroughmuir and swept aside Currie with a swashbuckling quarter-final win, Lockington scoring the final try in the last second.

The Polish National Seven made their first appearance at Melrose and crashed out in their opening tie, losing 33-7 to Marr. USA Tigers did not fare much better, beating Dundee before losing to Edinburgh Academicals.

The Borders series now moves on to Hawick on Saturday.

Currie Chieftains 40, Glasgow Hawks 7; Cartha Queen’s Park 17, Boroughmuir 28; Heriot’s 7. University of Edinburgh 21; Peebles 7, Dundee Rugby 38; Kelso 19, Marr 29; GHA 24, Gala 5; Hawick 24, Aberdeen Grammar 12; Selkirk 26, Stirling County 17.

Currie 24, Jed-forest 19; Boroughmuir 0, Melrose 29; University of Edinburgh 19, Edinburgh Accies 21; Dundee 5, USA Tigers 25; Marr 33, Polish National Seven 7; GHA 31, Ayr 5; Hawick 12, Crusaders 31; Selkirk 12, Watsonians 24.

Currie 5, Melrose 31; Edinburgh Accies 12, USA Tigers 10; Marr 21, GHA 20; Crusaders 12, Watsonians 21.

Melrose 27, Edinburgh Accies 0; Marr 14, Watsonians 19.

Melrose 14, Watsonians 19.