IT had been a long wait, but 83 years after their previous success at the Peebles Sevens, Selkirk made their own piece of history with an amazing win on Sunday at The Gytes.

The Souters improved with every tie and the icing on the cake was the emphatic 38-7 victory over Edinburgh Accies in the final – and this after they came from 0-19 down against Hawick in the opening round.

Newly appointed head coach Graham Marshall praised the character of the players, who scored 117 points in four ties.

He told us: “I thought that we got better over the last three tournaments and we controlled the ball well. The players have got more confident.

"We played the last tie in every round, but coming on after a shorter break before the final does not make that much difference.

“It was about control and possession for us, and after they scored, I felt that we controlled the ball. It will hopefully be a good platform for the rest of the season.”

It was no surprise that Dashwood Wellman collected the Player-of-the-Tournament despite so many other players in contention for the award.

Selkirk’s skill, control, defensive play and pace rattled Accies in the final, and for long spells they dominated the tie.

Selkirk fell behind to an Alex Glashan try before scores from Callum McEwan, Callum Marshall, and Wellman put them in the driving seat 24-7 at the interval.

After the break, McEwan scored a further two tries to complete his hat-trick and Wellman added the goal kicks, which strengthened his overall control of match.

Marshall added: “We showed great character to win the cup.”

It was that character which epitomised the all-round play of the side.

Earlier Selkirk came from behind to defeat Hawick before ousting Gala and Boroughmuir.

Finishing runners-up put Accies into third place in the Kings table behind Jed and Watsonians, who were winners at the Langholm Sevens 24 hours earlier for the first time.

Melrose’s hopes of retaining the title of Kings are not extinguished, but remain a faltering challenge unless they find resolve and strength to close the gap and other sides falter with four tournaments left.

Selkirk: C. Marshall, C. MacDougall, E. MacDougal, D. Wellwood, R. Nixon, C. McEwan, M. Davies, J. Bett, D. Allan, L. MacLennan.

First round: Stewart’s Melville 10, Jed-Forest 17; Watsonians 7, Melrose 12; Edinburgh Accies 26, Biggar 7; Earlston 17, Livonia 26; Peebles 17, Kelso 0; Boroughmuir 38, Berwick 0; Gala 43, Howe of Fife 12; Selkirk 26, Hawick 19.

Second round: Jed-Forest 12, Melrose 22; Edinburgh Accies 26, Livonia 0; Peebles 20, Boroughmuir 28; Gala 14, Selkirk 22.

Semi-finals: Melrose 12, Edinburgh Accies 22; Boroughmuir 14, Selkik 31.

Final: Edinburgh Accies 7, Selkirk 38.