EDINBURGH picked up the Ladies Cup yesterday after defeating Jed-Forest 29-19 in the final at Melrose Sevens. The match hung in the balance after the Borderers bounced back from 24-7 down to score two tries through Ross Combe and Iain Chisholm, which made it 24-19 with a few minutes still left on the clock.
Jed looked tired but they could sense that a famous victory was almost within their grasp, until the professionals rallied to stave off the rebellion, with Sasa Tofilau (a Samoan who plays for Kirkcaldy and has been training with Edinburgh) killing off the match when he powered over in the corner.
Will Helu, Otulea Katoa, Sam Beard and Nathan Fowles had scored for Edinburgh earlier in the tie, while Jed’s first score was a peach, created by Gregor Young with a backhanded off-load and finished by twin brother Lewis, who galloped home.
The beaten finalists will take consolation in the knowledge that they put up a brave fight, and that the seven ranking points they picked up from this tournament sees them jump ahead of Watsonians and in to top spot on the Kings of the Sevens table. Guest sides – including Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors – are not included in that league ladder.
Hosts Melrose were the last Scottish club side to win the tournament in 2011 and they were in the hunt again right up until the semi-final, when they were squeezed out 26-24 by the eventual winners.
Nathan Fowles was player of the tournament. By his own admission he is something of a novice when it comes to the abbreviated game, but he had the speed of thought, fleetness of foot and the all-round rugby skills to be a hugely influential player for Edinburgh at scrum-half. He also chipped in with six tries.
The 23-year-old from Rochdale, who recently signed a 12-month contract extension which will keep him at the club until the end of next season, has struggled for XV-aside game time in recent months, and he clearly enjoyed getting a competitive run-out.
“We played Gala Sevens last week and were beaten by Melrose, so it was good to get some revenge on them in the semi-final,” he said. “This is a prestigious tournament and we have never won it before, so it’s great to get our name on that trophy alongside some great teams.”
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