JED-FOREST were crowned Kings of the Borders sevens circuit after an amazing finale on Saturday at a sun-drenched Riverside Park.

In the aftermath of referee Iain Heard’s final whistle, coach Jammy McFarlane pledged that his players would take a break after winning the AM PM Kings of the Sevens title and made it a double by retaining their own tournament with a 28-24 win over Watsonians.

“It is a fantastic day for the club, a fantastic crowd who got behind us, and we would not ask for more, but the boys have delivered again, have played a lot of rugby with 10 tournaments in six weeks, which has been pretty rough on them, and need a break,” he said.

“All credit to Watsonians, who have been worthy of playing in the series, but Kings winners and our own winners… you cannot ask for better than that.

“We have set new goals and new standards, and we need to keep progressing."

Watsonians coach, Andrew Ker, added: “We went out twice in the first round in the series and that makes a big difference.

"But Jed hardly do that and they are a tough side to beat and takes a lot to put them down. I think it showed that we are the best two teams.”

Jed finished on 64 points with Watsonians eight points behind while the Edinburgh side collected the Macari Cup for being the best-placed side outwith the Borders.

Jed finished the 10 tournaments with three wins (also at Berwick and Earlston) and three runners-up, two semi and one quarter-final placing while Watsonians had two successes (Gala and Langholm) as well as four runners-up, one semi and one quarter-final place.

Gregor Young and Ian Chisholm scored for Jed while Euan Miller and Jack Ferguson replied for Watsonians in the first half of a pulsating final.

Alex Harris gave Watsonians the lead after the break before Ross Coombe (2) replied for Jed, who held on to complete the double despite a late Miller try.

Chisholm as the key man with his kicking.

The win marked Fraser Harkness’ last day playing for Jed after a long spell at Selkirk while referee Heard also hung up his boots on the Scottish circuit.

Jed-Forest: C. Cowan, F. Harkness, C. Gillon, I, Chisholm, G. Young, L. Young, R. Marshall, R. Hogg, D. Grieve, R. Coombe.

First round: Kelso 24, Hamilton 5; Edinburgh Accies 31, Peebles 7; Boroughmuir 43, Langholm 5; Jed-Forest 47, Musselburgh 0; Hawick 47, President’s V11 5; Watsonians 28, Selkirk 17; Stewart’s Melville 12, Gala 26; Melrose 45, Berwick 5.

Second round: Kelso 0, Edinburgh Accies 34; Boroughmuir 10, Jed-Forest 17; Hawick 19, Watsonians 33; Gala 24, Melrose 19.

Semi-finals: Edinburgh Accies 12, Jed-Forest 19; Watsonians 40, Gala 17.

Final: Jed-Forest 28, Watsonians 24.