Glasgow Legends Defend Plate Final at Melrose
 
Glasgow Legends, the old timers of Glasgow Hawks, returned to the birthplace of the abbreviated game for the Davidson Chalmers VETS Tournament at Melrose, intent on at least competing for the Plate trophy that they won last year.
 
However, in an afternoon of what-might-have-been, the Glasgow outfit went down to Islay and Tynedale from Northumberland, losing in their final match to the Morgan Old Blacks from Dundee.
 
The Davidson Chalmers VETS tournament, now in its fourth year, has become an established curtain raiser for the main Sevens competition the day afterwards, drawing ever-larger crowds to an event that celebrates the real spirit of the game.
 
The tournament consists of teams of ten players, with clubs eliminated being entered into subsidiary Bowl and Plate events.  This year the event comprised Melrose, Orkney, the Cayman Harlequins, Tynedale, Islay, Glasgow Legends (Glasgow Hawks), Hamilton (South Africa), Morgan Academy and the Auld Reekies (Edinburgh clubs).
 
In their first two matches, Glasgow Legends competed well in the first halves – going into the interval two points up against Islay and only two points down against Tynedale.  However, in games that really were about two halves, the Glasgow club then succumbed 31-19 to Islay and 35-26 to Tynedale.
 
The Plate final was a fierce encounter, played in blazing sunshine more attuned to sunbathing than strenuous sport.  In the second half, the Legends had clawed back a first half deficit to level the game 12-12 but, with both teams feeling the heat, it was Glasgow which wilted first and allowed the Dundee club to run in two unopposed late tries and wrest the Plate from the Legends’ hands.
 
Andy Drane, Partner of Davidson Chalmers, said: “There can be few places better to watch rugby than in Melrose on a sunny spring day.  They may be longer in the tooth, but today’s veterans showed real passion and pride.  Clearly Melrose was desperate to win their own tournament again, but they weren’t alone.  Davidson Chalmers commercial lawyers are delighted to be able to make the start of the Melrose Sevens festival happen and to support rugby both in the beautiful Borders and across the country.”
 
Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland said: “The whole weekend shows the reputation of the event and how teams from all around the world are eager to come and play in Scotland, the perfect stage for rugby with its rich history around the sport. As we are in the year of Active, it was wonderful that we had so many teams in both the main draw and veterans competition and inspiring others to have a go.”
 
Results 2011:  Cup Final: Hamilton (Hammie) Dynamiters 17 Melrose 12.  Bowl Final: Tynedale 31 Auld Reekies 7.  Plate Final: Morgan Old Blacks 24 Glasgow Legends 12

This article was posted on 11-Apr-2011, 19:30 by Hugh Barrow.