THISTLES MISS OUT IN SELKIRK SEVENS THRILLER

Scottish Thistles were beaten 45-38 by the ebullient south sea island recruits of The Royal Scots in the final of Selkirk Sevens at Philiphaugh tonight.

However, the manager of the Thistles, Scotland’s sevens development team, Peter Gallagher, was far from downcast at the outcome. “It was a commendable display by the squad,” he said.

“Sometimes the fact that we hadn’t really had any time to practise let us down and there were also occasions where the basic sevens skill level could have been higher.

“But, overall, it was a most useful exercise as it allowed us to look at other players in the lead up to a busy sevens season with the IRB circuit and the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne on the horizon.”

In the final Thistles left themselves with too much work to do, even when they had the benefit of the strong wind in the second-half. From trailing 5-33 at half-time they pulled back the scores to 17-33 but a poor pass with a try beckoning enabled The Royal Scots to gather and bolt upfield for what Gallagher reckoned was a “real 14 pointer.”

The Thistles had been required to make two changes to their squad after Saturday’s club games. Nick De Luca (Heriot’s) and Richard Vernon (Stewart’s-Melville) picked up knee and hamstring injuries respectively and were replaced by Graham Thomson (Dundee HSFP) – brother of the Glasgow Warriors professional Fergus – and Greig Ryan (Ellon). And after the first tie of the day Tane Jericevich (Aberdeen GSFP) was examined by the medics for a hand injury he’d sustained in league action against Watsonians, thus ruling him out of further involvement.

Thistles’ passage to the final saw them account for Berwick, Hawick and hosts Selkirk.

In their opening tie, the points in a 33-0 margin over Berwick came from Matt Coupar, Jericevich, John Houston, Andrew Noble and John Barclay (pictured). Stephen Duffy kicked two conversions as did Jericevich.

The 19-5 quarter-final victory over Hawick saw tries by Barclay, Noble and Ryan with Duffy and Thomson converting one apiece.

And in the semi-final they saw off the hosts 12-7, Roddy Deans and Thomson scoring tries, Duffy converting the former’s score before Selkirk hit back with a try by Scott Hendry, converted by Guy Blair.

In the final The Royal Scots, conquerors of Haddington, Melrose and Jed-Forest, opened up leads of 26-0 and 45-17 and had just enough in their locker to survive a late Thistles fightback.

The Royal Scots scorers in the final:

Tries – Joe Raduva, Rupeni Ragia (2), Epeli Qolikibuit (2), Bull Bainivalu (2). Conversions – Pate Tuicaucitu (3), Qolikibuit (2)

Thistles’ tries in the final came from Coupar (2), Thomson, Oli Brown and Barclay (2) with Duffy landing four conversions.

Scottish Thistles: Oli Brown (Boroughmuir and Scottish Institute of Sport) CAPTAIN, Greig Ryan (Ellon), Roddy Deans (Heriot’s), John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors and Scottish Institute of Sport), Matt Coupar (Edinburgh Academicals), Tane Jericevich (Aberdeen GSFP), Stephen Duffy (Glasgow Hawks), Graham Thomson (Dundee HSFP), John Houston (Heriot’s) and Andrew Noble (Cartha Queens Park). Additional replacement during the tournament – Steven Craig (Gala)

Results:

First round – Berwick 0 Scottish Thistles 33; Howe of Fife 12 Hawick

This article was posted on 29-Aug-2005, 14:18 by Hugh Barrow.