THE sevens final at Philiphaugh on Saturday was just what the crowd wanted – an all-Borders derby between Selkirk and Melrose.

Glasgow may have been playing Edinburgh up the road in a pro-derby clash, but there is no substitute for two Borders clubs battling it out for silverware.

Melrose held the upper hand despite an heroic Selkirk challenge - the Souters playing catch-up rugby against the BT Cup holders after an intensive afternoon of rugby on a dry pitch.

Melrose's experience and strength in depth proved crucial as the Greenyards club lifted the Selkirk Sevens Cup for the third time in four years with a 29-24 victory in the final over the hosts.

Selkirk fought back twice from 0-17 and 10-29 down, but ran out of time in an encounter that thrilled the large crowd.

The win also put Melrose in a strong position in their bid to finish second in the Kings of the Sevens series.

This just a week after Watsonians sealed the Kings series at Earlston and again conceded to Gala, this time in the second round, although it was ‘job done’ for Andrew Ker’s men.

Melrose, who won the opening tournament at Peebles, were praised by captain Bruce Colvine.

He said: “I am pleased with the way the boys played.

“We have not been able to field a top squad in the sevens series with 15-a-side matches.”

Colvine was delighted, too, that Ruairdh Campbell lifted the Denzil Lloyd Trophy for Player-of-the-Tournament.

There was no doubt, too, that Selkirk flyer, Tythan Adams, must have come close to the prize with his aggressive running being rewarded with six touchdowns.

Tries from Fraser Thomson, George Taylor and Campbell put Melrose in the driving seat in the final to leave the hosts, who trailed 10-17 at the interval after tries by Darren Clapperton and Ciaran Whyte, always playing catch-up rugby.

After half-time, tries from Campbell, Neil Irvine Hess and Craig Jackson helped Melrose to retain the cup despite Adams and Clapperton closing the gap to five points in the final play of the final.

Results

First round: Hawick 17, Edinburgh Accies 26; Jed-Forest 19, Powerbombs 24; Kelso 5, Boroughmuir 26; Selkirk 46, Berwick 0; Melrose 43, Peebles 0; GHA 24, Stewart’s Melville 0; Watsonians 38, Biggar 12; Gala 50, Langholm 0.

Second round: Edinburgh Accies 19, Powerbombs 33; Boroughmuir 7, Selkirk 29; Melrose 31, GHA 5; Watsonians 19, Gala 22.

Semi-finals: Powerbombs 14, Selkirk 24; Melrose 26, Gala 17.

Final: Selkirk 24, Melrose 29

Selkirk: E. MacDougall, C. Whyte, J. Welsh, M. Davies, R. Nixon, D. Clapperton, T. Adams, G. Craig, M. Robertson, C. McEwan.

Melrose: N. Irvine Hess, G. Taylor, R. Campbell, B. Colvine, M. McAndrew, G. Wood, F. Thomson, C. Jackson, D. Colvine, N. Godsmark.