Jed-Forest crowned Sevens champions on home soil

JED-FOREST confirmed their supremacy in rugby’s short game by being crowned Kings of the Sevens and winning their own tournament at Riverside on Saturday with a 28-24 victory over Watsonians in the 10th and final round of this gruelling contest.

Going into the final round of the Kings competition, Jed had a five-point advantage over Watsonians and, because of the system in use, needed only a win in their semi-final to achieve the Kings of the Sevens title.

Their 19-12 win over Edinburgh Accies, one of the consistently strong sides on the circuit, in the last four made certain that, whatever the result of the final, Jed would lift the overall prize.

“We got to the final and that made us Kings of the Sevens. It would have been very easy to step off the gas and take our eye off the final but the boys gave everything and what a fantastic final and what a great advert for this competition,” said Jammy McFarlane, the head coach at Jed-Forest.

It was fitting that Jed’s opponents in what was a final of great quality were Watsonians.

The Myreside men, throughout the 10 rounds, challenged strongly, playing a pacy style of rugby that enlivened and enriched the competition.

Overall, though, Jed were worth their ‘Kings’ win. The Riverside team had a blend of physicality and pace and, moreover, Scotland Sevens experience in the form of the Young twins, Gregor and Lewis, and the redoubtable Fraser Harkness, who, on Saturday, played his final game before retiring from the sport.

Jed led 14-12 at the break in the final thanks to converted tries from Gregor Young and Ian Chisholm against two unconverted tries for Watsonians by Ewan Miller and Scott McKean.

Ali Harris put Watsonians into the lead in the second half, but two converted tries from Jed’s impact sub, Ross Combe, put Jed 28-17 ahead with two minutes of play remaining.

Miller ate into Jed’s lead with a converted try, but it was not enough to cast a cloud over the sunshine-dappled celebrations at Riverside.

*SCOTLAND won the Bowl trophy at the World Sevens in Paris by beating England 28-10 in the final after defeating the United States and Brazil earlier in the day.

“We had a great game today,” said Scotland captain Scott Wight.

“We set the target of winning the Bowl and the boys have really stepped up to the plate.”