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The welcome arrival of sunshine at the weekend heralding the end of the gloomy bleak days, brought out the best in our boys as they played some magnificent 7’s on the way to success at Peebles on Sunday. Travelling down to the tournament with a spring in their heels, the boys were determined to ensure that the season was not a barren one and defend the Peebles 7’s trophy captured last year and return some silverware to Myreside for all to celebrate.
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The exertions of the trip to Dundee concluding the XV a-side season and the celebration party which followed left some of the players a little jaded. However, despite this, and with spirits transformed, the team hit their straps from the outset with the magnificent Guy Hills taking the ball from the kick-off and sprinting almost 60 meters to be pulled down just short of the line in the very first seconds of the tournaments very first tie, against a much fancied Hawick team. This set the tone for the remainder of the day and was followed up by some huge hits on the opposition by Dougie Brown and Ali Rowe after which tries were quick to follow from Skeen (2), Hills, Howe and Gav Brown as Hawick were denied any chance to settle and victory was ensured at 35 - 0.
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The next match followed some 2 hours later against King of the Sevens tournament leaders Selkirk - one of the advantages of being first tie on is the long rest and, er, chance for a couple of the squad to sober up! Having beaten Hawick, the second placed King of the Sevens team, it was crucial to claw back Selkirk’s lead in the competition by beating them in this tie. The work rate of Hills, Gav Brown, Howe and Skeen was immense and with Ker at his majestic best creating chances and keeping the opposition on the back foot coupled with Dougie Brown and Ali Rowe lurking ready to pounce on every loose ball or opportunity too make a hit, victory was sealed at 31 - 5. Tries came from Skeen, Ker, Howe, Brown and a magnificent solo effort from Callander showing his full repertoire of tricks and skills (and a couple borrowed from Skeeners’ repertoire) as he threw a dummy, stepped a defender and showed some pace and strength to beat a man and drag another over the line. Ok - so maybe the "pace" part is a gross exaggeration!
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The surprise package of the tournament was a very well organised and talented Biggar team who put up a great performance in the semi-final, but with our boys digging deep and the luxury of a 10 player squad available, victory was assured at 21 - 7. Two scything runs from Skeen producing tries were the highlight of the tie with Eddie Howe bagging the 3rd all converted by Ker. Sorbie was unlucky not to score against his old club and Euan Clark came close. Again Hills and the tireless Gav Brown worked hard throughout ensuring that the very impressive defence was maintained. At one point Hills made 4 tackles in quick succession followed by a 50 metre lung buster to get back onto a kicked ball, run it straight back at the opposition and throw a scoring pass, showing his outstanding strength and stamina and why he is affectionately known as "The lung" (not because his appearance resembles the organ of that name…..although, come to mention it…..).
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The final was not destined to be easy as the home town boys, playing some excellent 7’s to reach the concluding tie, were determined to lift the trophy. It was nip and tuck all the way in the first half as scores were matched in an end to end battle. After an exhausting 10 minutes tries from Ker, Skeen and an excellent effort by Dougie Brown saw us holding a slender 19 - 17 lead. Grim determination and dogged defence paved the way for the victory as possession was stolen and converted into points. The quality of play in the second half of the final was at times breath-taking with some superb handling at pace and excellent support running ensuring the opposition were not allowed into the game. The pick of the tries scored was one by Ker who hit a superb angle to scythe open the defence and sprint in from 40 meters (yep, we were as flabbergasted as you!). In total four tries were scored in the second half without reply, 2 from Ker, 1 from Skeen and finally one from Ali Rowe (who hadn’t bothered to score up until this point) ensured victory at 44 - 17.
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To cap the day Mike Ker was deservedly voted by the press as the Player of the Tournament for the second year in succession, although Skeen, Gav Brown and the indefatigable Hills ran him close.
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An excellent effort all round, and with the smiles back on there faces, who knows maybe the outside chance of winning the Kings of the Sevens trophy will spur the team on to more victories in the final two events at Earlston next Sunday and Jed the following Saturday.
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Finally, for his efforts Mike Ker finished the day £5 wealthier as just before taking a touchline kick in the final Scotland and Hawick legend Jim Renwick asked from his side of the white-wash "dae ye fancy it Mike"……"aye" was the immediate reply from the confident Ker, "a fiver then" quipped Renwick to which Ker stroked the ball majestically through the uprights. To his credit, and summing up the spirit and camaraderie of the excellent Peebles tournament Renwick paid up - who said they’re mean in Hawick?
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Team: Guy Hills, Gavin Brown, Dougie Brown, Eddie Howe, Mike Ker, Andrew Skeen, Ali Rowe, Tori Callander, Craig Sorbie, Euan Clark.
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Saturday was not as much fun as the team travelling to Langholm was reduced to only eight players (two of whom were borrowed from Stew-Mel) as a result of most of the talent being required for the important Dundee game. To add to the misery, Langholm on Saturday seemed somehow to be stuck in the depths of winter with torrential rain and cold conditions making running on the water logged pitch very difficult, if not impossible. Unfortunately, the conditions played into the much more physical Gala team’s hands and the first tie was lost by 33 - 14. Disappointment all round and apologies to Langholm from all concerned - it was after all their centenary event!
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The silver lining to the cloudy day was the inclusion in the team of two budding 5th year Watson’s school boys in Jamie Forbes and Grant Somerville both of whom acquitted themselves magnificently and showed what talented individuals they are. This is the second weekend in succession that the boys have turned out for the FP club, the previous week they represented the club at Boroughmuir along with 4th year pupils Jack Ferguson and Chris Scott (yes, the last named defies all logic and evolutionary convention, as you guessed right, he is the son of club stalwart Gary Scott and despite the obvious genetic challenge, is a good sevens player!)
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It is hoped that bringing these youngster into the team will give them a taste for the club and persuade them to join us, as, with talent like this potentially coming through; the future looks brighter!
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DJH.
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watsoniansrugby.com
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Published: 29/4/08
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