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AFTER one of the most explosive finals ever witnessed
at Philiphaugh, Rotherham kept their cool to collect their first-ever Selkirk Sevens
trophy on Sunday.
On a dry, fine day that got hotter as the tournament progressed, the 2,000-strong crowd received a major shock
when things reached boiling
point in the final between the defending champions, The Royal Scots, and English guests Rotherham. Trouble flared
within seconds of the kick-off, after forwards Apolesi Satala (Royal Scots) and Glen Remnant (Rotherham) had been
spoken to by referee John Hogg following an altercation at a scrum.Remnant received a yellow card for his trouble,
while Satala — adjudged the main offender — was red-carded. As Remnant retreated to the touchline he was set upon
by an incensed Satala, and within seconds both sets of players had joined in the melee. A handful of officials
and supporters took to the field to try and calm things down, and there followed some ugly scenes before order
was restored. Down to six men, the Royal Scots never looked likely to regain the poise and panache which had seen
them amass a total of 134 points in the previous three rounds. Rotherham, on the other hand, took full advantage
of their numerical superiority to run out convincing 31-14 winners — tries coming at regular intervals from Michael
Wood (2), Matt Rhodes (2) and Charlie Harrison.
 The upset of the day came in the second tie of the tournament, when National League side
Annan — coached by former Selkirk player Paul Minto — dumped Kelso 19-17, to fully justify their inclusion at the
Selkirk event. Meanwhile the host club also went out at the first hurdle, an injury time try by Hawick punishing
some slack Selkirk defending, to edge the Greens home 15-12.
The most enterprising local side on display were
undoubtedly Jed-Forest, who followed up last weekend’s victory at Kelso’s tournament with another polished display.
Convincing wins were notched up by the Royal Blues over Murrayfield Wanderers and the NIG Scottish Thistles, before
Kevin Amos’ men hit the buffers against semi-final opponents Rotherham and lost out 31-14 (by coincidence the same
scoreline as the final).
 The Selkirk Sevens Cup and winners’ medals were presented by SRU president Allan Hosie,
while Mrs Mary Inglis (wife of Selkirk president Jim) presented the Denzil Lloyd ‘Player of the Tournament’ Trophy
to Rotherham’s Dave Scully (a member of the Wakefield side which won theSelkirk event back in 1987).
RESULTS
1st round: Royal Scots 55, Berwick 0, Kelso 17, Annan 19; Peebles 12,
Gala 14; Hawick 15, Selkirk 12; Watsonians 10, Melrose 24; Rotherham 31,
Langholm 0; NIG Scottish Thistles 33, Ayr 0; Jed-Forest 28, Murrayfield
Wanderers.
2nd round: Royal Scots 45, Annan 7; Gala 19, Hawick 21; Melrose 0,
Rotherham 38; NIG Scottish Thistles 7, Jed-Forest 26.
Semi-finals: Royal Scots 34, Hawick 7, Rotherham 31, Jed-Forest 14.
Final: Royal Scots 14, Rotherham 31.
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