MELROSE won their second tournament on the Kings of the Sevens circuit on Saturday and strengthened the argument that they would have been difficult to beat in the huge round of sevens, that most say are too many, if they had not been involved in league and cup commitments.

In the end, the title will be decided at the final round this weekend at Jedburgh after Melrose won the Selkirk tournament at Philiphaugh by beating Watsonians 38-17 in the final.

It was a victory that delighted coach John Dalziel. He told us: “It has been a long, hard season, and to win two of the past three tournaments showed the total character of the team.

“Our players have really gelled the last couple of weeks and they have stuck together and supported each other.

"The tough season has taken its toll.

“We have hardly had any break. It has been a long, long time since we started on July 7 and we have been trying to keep ourselves fresh.

“There are a lot of guys still missing, under-20 guys and others carrying wee knocks, and the squad at Selkirk really came together. The boys are keen to win tournaments, and it showed that we can win sevens

“They have gone out there and shown what they can do.”

Melrose will be looking to add the Jed cup to wins at Kelso and Selkirk, and the players know what they have to do as Jed-Forest head the table with 54 points ahead of Watsonians on 49 with Melrose in third place on 41.

Scott McKean and Fraser Thomson each scored two tries and Nyle Godsmark one before Melrose ran away with the cup, to follow their success at Kelso, in the second half with scores from Bruce Colvine, David Colvine and Richard Mill, who also added the vital goal points.

There was consolation for Watsonians when McKean collected the Player-of-the-Tournament award.

In the first of the semi-finals, it took an extra-time try from Joe Helps to knock out the hosts while the second was a thriller with Reiss Cullen scoring the crucial try for his side after Watsonians had twice come from behind.

Guest side Loughborough Colleges, under former Selkirk player Ciaran Beattie, crushed Langholm before the true value of sevens came to light in defeat by Watsonians.

On an extremely cold day, Melrose turned up the heat and there was evidence again that the Kings of the Sevens series of 10 tournaments is asking too much of amateur players.

Melrose: B. Colvine, F. Thomson, N. Godsmark, R. Mill, D. Colvine, M. McAndrew, J. Helps, J. Baggott, A. Grieve, A. Nagle.

First round: Melrose 41, Peebles; Edinburgh Accies 17, Gala 31; Biggar 0, Selkirk 31; Kelso 0 32, Stewart’s Melville 7; Watsonians 12, Selkirk A 5; Loughborough Colleges 63, Langholm 0; Hamilton 0, Jed-Forest 36; Hawick 44, Berwick 0.

Second round: Melrose 22, Gala 12; Selkirk 34, Kelso 7; Watsonians 22, Loughborough Colleges 7; Jed-Forest 31, Hawick 20.

Semi-finals: Melrose 24, Selkirk 19 (aet); Watsonians 22, Jed-Forest 17.

Final: Melrose 38, Watsonians 17.