MELROSE celebrated a double success at the weekend with title wins at Kelso on Saturday and at Earlston yesterday both at the expense of Gala in two physical finals, writes Alan Lorimer.
The brace of titles puts Melrose in second place in this season's Kings title race but such is Gala's lead that it seems the Greenyards men will be unlikely to retain their Sevens crown.
Yesterday at a wet Haugh in Earlston, Melrose struggled through the top half of the draw edging out Watsonians in the second round and then Jed-Forest in the first of the semi finals. For their part Gala had an easier passage through the first two rounds with wins over St Boswells and Kelso before having to find extra reserves to subdue a strong Hawick team in the second semi final.
Then for the second time in the space of 24 hours Melrose and Gala faced each other in the final and in the event it was the greater physicality of Melrose and their more aggressive defence that proved the difference between the two sides.
Moreover the Melrose centre Austin Lockington found form at just the right time, his pace and clever footwork creating two of the Melrose tries. Bizarrely all the Melrose points came from their playmaker Richard Mill who scored a hat-trick of tries, converted all of them and kicked a penalty goal.
Gala trailed 17-5 at the break, Gavin Young having scored their only try. Second half unconverted tries from Graham Spiers and Fraser Hunter brought hope before Melrose secured a sixth successive Earlston title.
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