Kings Jed aim to end season on high note
DAVID FERGUSON
JED-FOREST will bring the curtain down on the Borders rugby season with what they hope to be a victory parade in front of a vociferous Riverside Park support this afternoon.

The club secured the 'Kings of the Sevens' title last Sunday by beating Melrose in the final of Earlston Sevens. They have been the most consistent performers on the sevens circuit, reaching three finals, three semi-finals and two quarters. Newcastle briefly threatened to ruin their party, winning three tournaments in recent weeks, but their invitations ran out, leaving Jed to reclaim the popular sevens crown.

The Tynesiders currently sit second in the Kings table, but they won't feature at Riverside today, leaving the way clear for Melrose, Kelso, Selkirk, Boroughmuir, Hawick and Watsonians to overtake them. First rounds are often tiresome affairs, but the fireworks will be sparking early today with some appetising ties which seem designed to fuel 'country versus city' rivalries.

In the top half, Dundee, finalists at Peebles, open the tournament against Langholm at 1.30pm, Hawick meet Watsonians and Selkirk face Boroughmuir, while, in the bottom, the hosts are up against Glasgow Hawks and Gala take on Heriot's.

The draw has not made life easy for Jed, but coach Callum Brown insisted the team would not be taking it easy now the Kings of the Sevens crown was in the trophy cabinet. He said: "The team will certainly not be resting on their laurels this weekend. They have worked hard for the Kings title and will want to finish the season strongly with a win at their own sevens."

Barratt East Scotland Jed-Forest Sevens (first tie 1.30pm): Dundee v Langholm, Melrose v Haddington, Hawick v Watsonians, Selkirk v Boroughmuir, Peebles v Stewart's Melville, Jed-Forest v Glasgow Hawks, Gala v Heriot's, Kelso v Berwick

This article was posted on 6-May-2006, 07:37 by Hugh Barrow.