The destination of the title will be decided today at Riverside where Jed-Forest host their 112th tournament, bringing to a conclusion the 10 gruelling rounds that count towards the competition, writes Alan Lorimer.
Many in the Borders believe that the number of tournaments – four double up on consecutive weekends – is sacrificing quality for quantity. Yet when so many clubs look to sevens to bolster their budgets, none would be prepared to remove themselves from the circuit. The answer may be to have just six or seven events that count towards the 'Kings' title, or to bring in a second-tier competition. Any solution, though, will be difficult to implement in a region where clubs tend to pull together.
Melrose, four points ahead of Watsonians, are favourites for the title but must reach the final to be sure of overall victory. They are likely to meet Selkirk in the quarter-finals, though, and were well beaten by the Philiphaugh side in the Selkirk final last week. Also potentially posing a threat to Melrose are Gala, six points adrift in third place. They have struggled to produce an effective sevens game since they won the opening event on home soil but there were signs last week in their narrow semi-final loss to Selkirk that they have recaptured that form.
Watsonians are in the top half of the draw and could face the hosts, Jed-Forest, in the semi-finals. Jed have a strong side that includes Scotland sevens squad member Lewis Young and his younger brother Glen, who, aside from having been snapped up by the Newcastle Falcons Academy, has the height Scotland so badly need for their national sevens team.
Draw Jed-Forest: Jed-Forest v Berwick, Heriot's v Hawick, Hamilton v Langholm, Watsonians v Peebles, Falkirk v Selkirk, Melrose v Hillhead/Jordanhill, Kelso v Edinburgh Uni, Gala v Edinburgh Accies
STANDINGS (after 9 of 10 events) 1 Melrose 45pts, 2 Watsonians 41, 3 Gala 39, 4 Selkirk 35, 5 Edinburgh Accies 34, 6 Jed-forest 29, 7 Hawick 23, 8 Heriot's 19, 9 Peebles 13, 10 Kelso 8
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