THERE was just no stopping Hawick at their own sevens on Saturday – not even afternoon thunder which was followed by sunshine in the final.
The Greens roared to a 36-7 victory in the final to send dark clouds over Jed-Forest and take their fifth consecutive home sevens title.
The Mansfield Park event, however, strengthened the argument that there are too many tournaments packed into the final seven weeks of the season.
Hawick coach Phil Leck agreed as he tackled his first Kings of the Sevens season, and this despite his side producing the form that he has been striving for since arriving at Mansfield Park.
“We have to play a weakened side at Berwick Sevens as we have the Border League cup final [against Gala],” he told TheSouthern.
“I believe that there are too many sevens and there are clubs like Whitecraigs and Berwick who come a long way and then have to get on the bus home.”
Leck agreed that the pool system, used at Gala and also at the forthcoming Kelso tournament, was the best way forward as teams had at least two matches.
He told us: “The boys showed what we can play like, but we need to show that appetite away from home as well. Then they would be a force to be reckoned with as the hard work has paid off.”
Hawick showed a real hunger for the game, encouraged by a passionate crowd, who even cheered when the Gala success at Murrayfield was announced over the tannoy.
In four ties, Hawick scored 140 points and not even the home diehards expected such an execution job on Kings of the Sevens favourites.
Jed, winners at Gala and runners-up Melrose, had no time to draw breath as Hawick ripped their opponents apart to lead 24-0 at half-time, thanks to a double from Greg Cottrell and tries by Keith Davies and Bruce McNeil.
It was one-way traffic again after the break with Gary Johnstone scoring and Cottrell completing his hat-trick.
No surprise, then, that president Alister Pow described it as a great day for the club.
Hawick had earlier led the charge with emphatic wins over Berwick, Peebles and Selkirk, while Jed struggled against Kelso in round one before Gregor Young’s try sealed the win.
That was followed by victories over Hamilton and Melrose before the rampant Hawick, who included Peebles’ David Anderson in their squad due to injury, went on a final rampage.
There was disappointment in the Melrose camp that the Kings holders, even with Glasgow Warrior Scott Wight in the side, could not get beyond the semi-finals.
But despite the mixed weather and the cup final, Hawick would be happy with the crowd and also the result.
That Kings title may yet prove a huge target as Jed lead the field for the cup and the prize-money.
Hawick: D. Anderson, K. Davies, M. Robertson, G. Cottrell, R. Hutton, G. Johnstone, N. Renwick, B. McNeil, N. McColm, C. Russell.
Jed-Forest: D. Gillespie, M. Weekly, A. Nagle, R. Goodfellow, I. Chisholm, L. Young, G. Young, J. Hogg, T. Hogg, D. Gobby.
Results
First round: Melrose 35 Whitecraigs 12; Hawick YM 0 Watsonians 31; Jed-Forest 12 Kelso 10; Hamilton 19 Dumfries 7; Hawick 31 Berwick 7; Peebles 22 Edinburgh Accies 7; Selkirk 31 Langholm 10; Biggar 10 Falkirk 27.
Second round: Melrose 19 Watsonians 12; Jed-Forest 26 Hamilton 0; Hawick 38 Peebles 10; Selkirk 22 Falkirk 7.
Semi-finals: Melrose 7 Jed-Forest 17; Hawick 35 Selkirk 10.
Final: Jed-Forest 7 Hawick 36.