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SATURDAY 18 MAY
 

MELROSE ARE KINGS OF THE SEVENS

Melrose knew before the start of the final Kings of the 7s tournament at Jedforest today that an appearance in the final would be enough to give them the title of Kings of the 7s for the third time in the last four years, and that's exactly what they did. But with Jedforest knocking out Watsonians in the first semi final it meant that they had wrapped up the title before they met Gala in the other semi final.

Jedforest took the scalps of Berwick then Heriot's before beating Watsonians 5-0 and then Melrose in an entertaining final 27-7. It marked the end of the career of Jed captain Ross Goodfellow, and if it does it will be a tremendous way for him to go out at the end of a superb career. Watch chat here.

It was perhaps fitting that Jed won their own tournament against the team who have taken the K7s trophy from them this year. The league table doesn't lie and to achieve top position after 10 gruelling events is a difficult thing to do. Melrose ended with 52 points, Watsonians finished second (46) with Gala third on 44 and Jedforest collected the fourth prize by pipping Selkirk by a point with 39 points. Watch final here.

FRIDAY 17 MAY
 

HAWICK LINDEN WIN FRASER JAMES PARTNERSHIP LTD TROPHY

Hawick Linden received the Fraser James Partnership Ltd tonight at their club presentation evening at their clubrooms in the town. Captain Barry Sutherland and outgoing President Rob Black received the trophy from BRTV's Stuart Cameron on behalf of Fraser Brydon from the Galashiels based company who is currently on holiday in Spain.

This was the first time the new trophy was awarded, and it will go annually to the Borders team from East League 1, 2 and 3 which accumulates the most league points in a season. This season nine local sides were in contention. Linden pipped local rivals Hawick Harlequins to the trophy with 77 points in their 18 matches in East League 2. Both Hawick teams were promoted as a result and will meet up with Duns and Langholm next season in the First Division. It was a season too for Full Back Nathan Murray who scored 23 tries this season. He received a trophy as well as a medal, which was given to all the players, for achieving promotion and winning the East League 2 title.

WEDNESDAY 15 MAY
 

THE MOST EXCITING OF ALL K7s TOURNAMENTS ENDS AT JED

All roads will lead to Riverside Park on Saturday as the Kings of the 7s tournament reaches its climax after nine gruelling rounds of rugby which started with the Gala event at the beginning of April. Since then we have had six different winners illustrating how close it has been, and going into the final event on Saturday hosted by Jedforest, four teams are still in with a chance of picking up the famous trophy and collecting the £2500 first prize.
Favourites Melrose head the table knowing an appearance in the Final will give them the title, but they will have a tough route to the Final, with the possibility of meeting Seliirk in the quarters. Selkirk beat them last weekend at their own 7s and if they take out Melrose again that will open up things for Watsonians, who are just four points behind, and also Gala, who could yet nick it with a win at the last tournament to repeat what they did in the first at their own event. Jedforest will want to win at their own 7s and to do that they may come up against Watsonians. If Melrose, Watsonians and Gala all go out in the first round and Selkirk win, it would be Selkirk who are crowned K7s champions with more wins (three) than any other, but that is the most unlikely of the many intriguing scenarios.

WEDNESDAY 15 MAY
 

COLIN YOUNG TAKES OVER AS HEAD COACH AT BERWICK

The popular former captain of Berwick Rugby Club, Colin Young, has been named as Head Coach of Berwick RFC. The club were relegated from East League 1 this season but there's a determination throughout the club that after a few difficult seasons it is time to buck the trend and start getting the famous English club back up the pecking order again, and Colin, a Berwick man to the core, is hotly tipped to be the man who can change things round.

A spokesman for Berwick said: "We are very pleased that Colin has agreed to become our new Head Coach. He brings a vast amount of experience from his playing days and we will support him 100% in his new role."

Meanwhile Joe Ansbro has been forced to retire from rugby due to a neck injury. The former Scottish back won 11 caps for Scotland.

SATURDAY 11 MAY
 

SELKIRK WIN OWN 7s BUT MELROSE STILL LEAD K7s TABLE

Selkirk won their own tournament for a fifth time in six years with a win at Philiphaugh against Melrose by 27-7. It means that Selkirk are one of four teams who can still win the Kings of the 7s title although the smart money will be on either Melrose or Watsonians who are separated by four points. Melrose lead the table on 45 with Watsonians on 41, Gala have 39 with Selkirk on 35.

Selkirk beat Falkirk in the first round 24-10 before beating Glasgow Hawks 19-15 in the quarter final. They beat Gala 12-10 in a tense semi final before defeating Melrose in the last match of the tournament. Melrose overcame Peebles, Jedforest and Watsonians on their way to the final. Melrose's extra time win over Watsonians in the semi final certainly didn't help them with very little time to prepare for the final.

Selkirk's Callum McColm said: "We were shattered in the end and so were Melrose after their extra time win against Watsonians. It was pure heart and desire from the boys. There's still everything to play for and winning this is what it's all about."

SUNDAY 5 MAY
 

MELROSE TAKE EARLSTON TITLE FOR FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW

The Kings of the 7s series is bubbling up nicely with Melrose going top of the table after their fourth consecutive Earlston 7s title today. They beat Watsonians 33-19 in the Final with Jedforest and Selkirk picking up five points each to keep them in contention with just two events remaining.

Melrose looked very good in dispatching Kelso (33-17), Edinburgh Accies (38-0) and Selkirk (21-12) although they had to come from 12-0 down to win their semi final against the Souters. Watsonians did what Selkirk managed to do the previous weekend and score 17 points to put them right in the mix.

Melrose have 38 points, two ahead of Watsonians with Gala dropping from first to third on 34. Edinburgh Accies are fourth with 31 while K7s holders Jedforest (26), Selkirk (25) and Hawick (23) need big performances in the final two events at Selkirk (11th) and Jedforest (18th) if they are to be in with a chance of claiming the £2500 winning prize.

SATURDAY 4 MAY
 

WATSONIANS RETAIN KELSO 7s TITLE BUT GALA STILL TOP

It doesn't come much tighter at the top after seven events in the 10-round Kings of the 7s series with Gala still on top of the table on 31 points following Watsonians' second win in the tournament this season at the Kelso 7s. They were leading 19-0 at the break but Accies shocked them by taking the lead 24-19. But in the last play of the match 'Sonians won the game and become the first team this season to win more than once.
Gala hold on to the top spot in the table with 31 points despite gaining three points at Kelso. Watsonians have 29 and both Melrose and Edin Accies are on 28, with Hawick (23), Jedforest (21) and Selkirk (20) not far behind. It is the most open K7s series ever and all to play for as the circus moves on to Earlston tomorrow.
Meanwhile in the IRB 7s at Glasgow Scotland lost to England and New Zealand in their Pool although they beat Portugal. They are now in danger of having to pre-qualify as a non-core 7s team on the circuit - an absolute disgrace for the country which invented the abridged game. Scotstoun looked deserted on TV with banks of empty seats. Maybe time to bring the event to the Borders!

FRIDAY 3 MAY
 

GALA RED TRIANGLE RETAIN THE MATT LOCHRIE CUP

A young, talented, Gala Red Triangle player, Matt Lochrie, who died last year, was remembered at Netherdale tonight in the second Matt Lochrie Memorial Cup game between his team mates at Gala RT and a Melrose Under 16 team.

As last year, the match was highly entertaining and brought out the best of some of the Borders' finest young rugby players, many of who are bound to go on to great things in the future. It was close at the break with honours even at 10-10 thanks to a couple of tries from both sides - Aiden Turner and captain Lachlan Johnston for Gala and Craig Patterson and Euan Runciman for Melrose. But the second half belonged to the home team aS they ran in 17 unanswered points to win 27-10. Johnston scored a second try and a conversion with Ritchie Rutherford and Alexander Lyons getting the others. GRT Scrum half Mark Amos was voted man of the match, just pipping team mates Neil Turnbull and Lachlan Johnston.  You can watch highlights of the encounter here.