Warriors on top form to retain their Melrose title
GLASGOW WARRIORS retained the Melrose Sevens title yesterday, defeating Germany 36-21 in the final at The Greenyards.
The pro side were the best outfit on show in the Borders as a crowd of over 10,000 were wowed by the skills of the likes of Niko Matawalu and Fraser Lyle.
The main shock in the first two rounds came from Jed-Forest, who knocked out guest side North West University from South Africa 21-17.
In the first quarter-final, the host side fought back to defeat Wasps 19-15 in a thriller, Neil Irvine-Hess scoring the clinching try.
Next up Watsonians, with teenager Adam Hastings starring, ran Germany close, but lost 22-14.
Jed-Forest then defeated Edinburgh Accies 19-17 and the Warriors saw off Gala 26-12, with Rory Hughes adding two more tries to the three he scored in their first match against Dundee.
In the first semi-final, Germany took an early lead against Melrose, but a try by Austin Lockington levelled things up at 5-5.
Germany regained the lead 12-5 before Tom Wilson’s converted try made it 12-12 and the hosts still had a chance.
Two late tries saw the Germans come through 22-12, though.
An early try in the second semi-final between Glasgow and Jed-Forest from Darren Gillespie put Jed 7-0 ahead, but by the interval the Warriors led 17-7.
Three tries in the first half from Glenn Bryce, Hughes and Will Bordill gave Warriors the points they needed.
Gregor Young scored a second try for Jed after the break and at the death his twin brother Lewis went close, but the pro side held on to win 17-12.
In the final, the Warriors got off to the perfect start with a superb try from Matawalu and then Lyle added another.
Germany fought back to go 19-12 up, but further tries from the Warriors from Lyle, a Gregor Young double and Murray McConnell saw them home.