THE Peebles Festival of Rugby featured more than 20 hours of competitive action across all levels last weekend.

The highly-anticipated event kicked off on Friday with the OAPees Residents v Exiles match featuring former players.

The contest started off as touch but finished full contact ahead of the centenary players reunion dinner.

And the ex-players came out to watch as the stars of the future lined up for the U16s tournament with Peebles and Gala Red Triangle reaching the final of the Laureat Cup.

Gala progressed to the final scoring 91 points against the President’s 7 and Melrose Wasps; while host Peebles disposed of the Jed Thistle 38-0 and Selkirk Youth 24-12.

Luke Scott opened the scoring for Gala then played his part in the second by Callum Purves before Louis Whyte pulled one back to make the half-time score 10-5 for the Maroons.

With Peebles pressing, Gala broke clear and Gregor Paton touched down under the posts and added the extras. Findlay Boak’s try, which Rory McCafferty converted, reduced the deficit – but Gala held on to take the trophy with a 17-12 victory.

In the Bowl Final, early tries from Hawick Youth looked to have sealed it, but a plucky Jed fightback took it to 12-12. Jed then took the lead but, with time running out, Hawick scored and converted to make it 19-17 to the lads from Mansfield Park.

On Saturday morning the Women’s 7s event took place and charity side Hearts & Balls retained the Helen Cleghorn Memorial Trophy with a victory over Corstorphine Cougars.

This was followed by the opening round of this year’s Kings of the Sevens that afternoon.

Watsonians, Melrose, Gala and Selkirk progressed from the pools, setting up two exciting semi-finals.

In the first, Watsonians disposed of Melrose 22-14, then, in the second, Selkirk were 14 points clear with two minutes remaining.

But Gala fought back to take the tie to extra time and the Netherdale side eventually progressed with a 29-24 victory over fellow Borderers Selkirk.

In the final, the Edinburgh side won the battle of the Maroons by 17-7 to lift the trophy.

Watsonians’ Stu Allison, was named player of the tournament.

The festival concluded on Sunday with the Under 18s tournament.

And the town celebrated their first home success at this level in 18 years as Peebles Colts beat Hawick Under 18s 34-14 in the final, having disposed of Morpeth and Kelso Harlequins in the pool stages and Biggar in the semi-final.

Full Results from the Kings of the Sevens event:

Pool A results - Hearts & Balls 12 Watsonians 19, Berwick 0 Watsonians 47, Berwick 0 Hearts & Balls 48

Pool B - Hawick 17 Edinburgh Accies 26, Melrose 22 Edinburgh Accies 5, Melrose 21 Hawick 19

Pool C - Jedforest 5 Gala 27, Kelso 12 Gala 14, Jedforest 14 Kelso 17

Pool D - Peebles 26 Biggar 5, Selkirk 38 Biggar 0, Selkirk 26 Peebles 0

Semi-finals - Watsonians 24 Melrose 14 and Gala 29 Selkirk 24 after extra time

Final - Watsonians 17 Gala 7