Maroon’d @ Gala - Gala 7s
Gala Sevens – 11/4/26
The second Saturday in April saw, not Melrose Sevens, but Gala Sevens, the second of the 2025/26 Kings of the Sevens Tournaments. Melrose, having won Pool “C” by beating Peebles 33-7, Currie Chieftains 45-0 and Selkirk 39-12 then defeated Kelso 17-14 in the first semi-final.
The final was contested with Edinburgh Accies and it was interesting to observe two “geriatrics” of Sevens Rugby in opposition – Bruce Colvine of Melrose and Richard Mill, previously of Melrose and now of Edinburgh Accies.
The game was a nip and tuck affair before Mill threw out a wide pass left to Vinnie Hart who defeated the despairing tackle by Colvine to score and convert. Ross Cadzow then made a break from 60m out to score with Hart, again, converting to give Accies a 14-point lead at the break. Early in the second half Hart broke from half way to score and convert his second try leaving Melrose a massive mountain to climb. Corey Goldsbrough confused the Accies defence by jinking past the opposition in the right corner for a try converted by Doug Crawford with only a couple of minutes remaining. Then, with one minute to go, Harry Makowski kicked wide right with the ball being collected by Crawford who scored and converted. The re-start kick was not retrieved by Melrose who gave away a penalty in trying to win it and, thus, the game was lost.
Edinburgh Accies 21 Melrose 14.
Pool “C” –MELROSE 33 Peebles 7; Currie Chieftains 10 Selkirk 36; MELROSE 45 Currie Chieftains 0; Peebles 13 Selkirk 31; Peebles 21 Currie Chieftains 24; MELROSE 39 Selkirk 12
Semi-finals – Edinburgh Accies 26 Watsonians 14; MELROSE 17 Kelso 14.
Final – Edinburgh Accies 21 MELROSE 14.
Melrose Squad – Seb Grant, Harry Makowski, Stuart Kirk, Robin Sharp, Corey Goldsbrough, Bruce Colvine, Doug Crawford, LEE Harrity, Hamish Weir, Jaxson Douglas, Paddy Anderson ©, Munroe Job (injury replacement for the final).
Kings of the Sevens (after 2 Rounds) – MELROSE 17 points, Edinburgh Accies 15, Kelso 12, Watsonians 8, Peebles 5, Hawick, Gala, Heriots & Boroughmuir – 3 points each.