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Falcons So Close In Melrose


Newcastle Falcons came agonisingly close to defending their Melrose Sevens title on Saturday, losing by only one score to the Shimlas of Free State University.
A determined Shimlas side, containing a host of South African Sevens internationals, won a keenly-contested final 17-10 in front of a capacity crowd in excess of 15,000 on a baking hot day at the Greenyards.
It was a fitting finale for Melrose, the oldest Sevens tournament in the world in its 124th year, as winger Van der Watt caught a crossfield kick to race down the right wing for the crucial score.

The Falcons had to do without captain and key man Ollie Phillips for the showpiece match having injured his groin in the semi-final win over Oxford University, but put up a game effort nonetheless as James Hamer snuck in to the corner to draw level after Shimlas opened the scoring through Jackson.

Van der Watt grabbed the first of his two decisive tries for the South Africans with a 30-metre run, but the never-say-die attitude of the Falcons shone through as Cumbrian youngster Lewis Boyd raced in to the left corner to set up a tense finish, as the Shimlas just held out.

Newcastle coach Mark Laycock, who would have played but for injury, said afterwards: “I’m proud of our young squad today for their efforts.

“We played some good rugby on what was a great occasion, but in the end were just beaten by an outstanding Shimlas side who were worthy winners.”

The Falcons had made their way to the final by virtue of a 26-12 win over Oxford University in the semi’s, whose coaching team included Australian legend Joe Roff.

Scotsmen Cameron Johnston and Scott Riddell both found themselves on the scoresheet after a cagey start, with skipper Phillips and a superb length-of-the-field solo try from Dutchman Tim Visser sending the Falcons through.

Newcastle had earlier warmed up with an emphatic 35-0 first round victory over Aberdeen as Phillips helped himself to two tries, Visser, Johnston and Riddell all getting over the line as well in a comfortable five-try procession.

Glasgow Hawks provided stiffer opposition in the last 16, grabbing the first try of the game, but the Falcons’ Sevens quality shone through in the end as Phillips, Riddell, Johnston and Visser all grabbed tries in a 24-5 victory.

The Falcons are next in Sevens action this Saturday when they defend their title at Hawick, aiming to win the tournament for the third season running. The following Saturday sees them take part in the Langholm Sevens, another competition to have been won by Newcastle for the last two seasons.

This article was posted on 15-Apr-2007, 16:40 by Hugh Barrow.