Absence of Melrose Sevens holders leaves door open
GARY HEATLY
THE Melrose Sevens is always an exciting occasion and today at the Greenyards is likely to be no different, especially with a number of Scottish sides in with a chance of getting their hands on the famous Ladies Cup.

The absence of Stellenbosch University, the winners in 2004 and 2005, from the draw has opened up the competition. Realistically as many as eight teams have a chance of getting their hands on silverware come this evening, although a number will be hit by the loss of their Scotland Sevens players who are in Singapore.

The hosts Melrose, who were pipped in a memorable final last year by the South Africans 38-24, will again feel they have a good chance following on from a decent 15-a-side campaign and with a vociferous home crowd cheering them on. They face a tough second-round opener, however, against 2002 champions and last week's Gala Sevens winners Boroughmuir.

Boroughmuir captain Rory Couper said: "We couldn't have been handed a much tougher draw but we have a decent side who have come together over the last couple of weeks and the win in Gala has helped our confidence."

Fellow Capital side Watsonians begin their campaign against Gala or Selkirk in the second round.

"Winning the Melrose Sevens would be the highlight of a lot of our careers and although the preparation has been difficult with us still being involved in the BT Cup, we have a good mix of experience and youth in the squad," said scrum-half Jamie Blackwood.

Of the visiting teams expected to put up a strong challenge Shimlas from Orange Free State and Newcastle Falcons could prove to be the biggest threat to a Scottish side winning the event.

CALA Melrose Sevens draw (The Greenyards, today): First Round: Selkirk v Gala at 12.45pm, Peebles v Glasgow Hawks at 1.02pm, Kelso v Hawick at 1.19pm, Heriots v Langholm at 1.36pm.

Second Round: Watsonians v Selkirk or Gala at 1.53pm, Ayr v Newcastle Falcons at 2.10pm, Jed-Forest v Peebles or Glasgow Hawks at 2.27pm, Boroughmuir v Melrose at 2.44pm, Biggar v Kelso or Hawick at 3.01pm, Currie v Shimlas at 3.18pm, Stewart's Melville v Heriots or Langholm at 3.35pm, Scottish Thistles v Oxford University at 3.52pm.

This article was posted on 8-Apr-2006, 07:36 by Hugh Barrow.