Watsonians retain their crown as Kings of the Sevens

Wa t s o n i a n s m a d e i t f i v e s u c c e s s e s o u t o f t e n i n t h e Ned Haig Kings of the Sevens series, bringing the cur tain down on the B orders circuit by defeating Jed-forest 31-5 in the Jed Sevens final at Riverside Park.

It was a season of dominance by a Watsonians side which held on to their Kings title with 71 points.

“We wo r k h a r d a n d h ave used around 20 players,” said team manager David Harris. “It has been a great season and we love the sevens. The boys love to play and there is a great team spirit. I am very proud of them.

“Kelso gave us a ver y hard game in the first round, and we kept our best form for the final.”

It was the third time in four seasons that the clubs had met i n t h e f i n a l . Two tries by Ben Robbins a n d o n e b y Lewis Berg, and two Ali Harris conversions put Watsonians 19-0 ahead at the break.

After the interval Berg scored t w i c e a g a i n t o s e a l t h e t i e despite a Ror y Marshall consolation try and Charlie Mckill receiving a yellow card.

Je d c a l l e d o n E d i n b u r g h A c c i e s d u o , R i c h a r d M i l l a n d J a m i e S o l e , a s i n j u r y replacements, while Watso - n i a n s i n c l u d e d D a r r e n Gi l l e s p i e , p i c t u r e d , b u t t h e c i t y s i d e we r e i n t o t a l c o n - t r o l f r o m t h e k i c k - o f f i n a one-sided final.

In the first of the semi-finals, Wa t s o n i a n s , w h o e a r l i e r defeated Kelso and Hamilton, k n o c ke d o u t B o r o u g h mu i r while Jed held off a late challenge by Edinburgh Accies in the other semi with a Lewis Young try.

The runners-up spots in the Kings series were filled by Boro u g h mui r ( 5 4 p oi n ts) , who won t wo tournaments, and E d i n b u rg h Ac c i e s (4 8 ) a n d Melrose (43) one apiece.

Results:

First round: Kelso 7, Watsonians 10; Peebles 5, Hamilton 38; Hawick 5, Boroughmuir 14; Langholm 5, Border Park 38; Selkirk 0, Edinburgh Accies 45; Gala 19, Heriot’s 17; Melrose 38, Berwick 0; Jed-forest 38, Musselburgh 0.

Second round: Watsonians 41, Hamilton 5; Boroughmuir 38, Border Park 12; Edinburgh Accies 19, Gala 12; Melrose 7, Jed-forest 24.

Semi-finals: Watsonians 19, Boroughmuir 12; Edinburgh Accies 17, Jed-forest 24.

Final: Watsonians 31, Jed-forest 5.