What has been impressive about Accies sevens performances in the Kings of the Sevens competition this season has been the width with which they have played, coupled with a strong defence, tested to the limit in the final by a Sellkirk side that probably had an eye to two weeks hence when they host their own sevens at Philiphaugh.

Speaking after the final. Graham Bonner, the Accies’ coach talked about how important it was for his side to win at Langholm after missing out on the top prize in two tournaments last weekend.

“That’s got us back on track,” he said. “Last weekend we didn’t fire many shots but this weekend it’s been superb.

“We had a very changed squad for Langholm with a lot of youth. We had a 17-year-old, a couple of 18-year-olds, and a couple of 19-year-olds in the squad and they really stood up and showed what they’re made of,” added Bonner.

Edinburgh Accies had looked convincing in their pool matches disposing of Boroughmuir and then Jed-Forest before facing a Melrose side missing several key players in the first of the semi-finals. There the Raeburn Place men had the penultimate stage tie in the bag by half-time when they led 19-0 with tries by Vincent Hart, Ross Cadzow and Gavin Welsh. The pacy Welsh then doubled his semi-final tally with a try after half-time before Corey Goldsbrough touched down to prevent Melrose being ‘nilled’

For Selkirk, the return of Callum Anderson and Ross Nixon made a massive difference to their game, the 38-year-old Nixon providing steadying experience and Anderson the ability to vary the tactics when the moment demanded it.

Selkirk showed their ability by defeating Watsonians in the deciding match of Pool D to qualify for the semi-finals, where they found themselves trailing Kelso 7-12 at the break, with the Philiphaugh side’s points in the first half of that tie coming from a converted try by Anderson, Kelso having scored tries by Angus Utterson and Hamish Tweedie.

But in the second half it was all Selkirk as Monroe Job led the way with an early try, before touchdowns by Anderson and then Cammy Forster gave the Souters a decisive 28-12 win to book their place in the final.

The final itself produced high tension rugby in which Accies shot into an early lead with tries by Cadzow and Hart. A converted try by Blake Cullen brought Selkirk back into contention but a Welsh try then gave Edinburgh Accies a 17-7 lead at the break.  Selkirk began the second half with a second try from Cullen before Cadzow replied with his second try of the final to put Accies ahead 24-14, Job crossed towards the end for converted try but not enough to stop Accies taking the title with a 24-21 win.

“I’m pleased with the progress we’ve made,” said the Selkirk coach Mike Jaffray, who reasoned that there was not much between the last two teams standing. “There were just moments there in the final, a couple of knock-ons … but, to be fair, Accies played well all tournament and they stretched us in defence.”

Overall, Melrose still lead in the Kings of the Sevens title race by a substantial margin, but Edinburgh Accies are back in the chasing position.

Langolm 7s results –

Pool A: Melrose 19 Hawick 19;;  Hawick 12 Heriot’s 28; Heriot’s 12 Melrose 26

Pool B: Edinburgh Accies 31 Boroughmuir 5;  Boroughmuir 21 Jed-Forest 2;, Edinburgh Accies 26 Jed-Forest 12

Pool C: Kelso 26 Gala 5; Gala 15 Peebles 12; Kelso 38 Peebles 10

Pool D:  Watsonians 31 Langholm 14;  Langholm 0 Selkirk 52; Selkirk 19 Watsonians 7

Semi-finals: Melrose 7 Edinburgh Accies 26; Kelso 12 Selkirk 28.

Final:  Edinburgh Accies 24 Selkirk 21

Langolm 7s Final teams –

Edinburgh Accies: C MacDonald, J Townshend, T Edwin, L Johnson, V Hart, R Cadzow, G Welsh, J Toner, J Jones, O Forrest, J Abington, G Barron

Selkirk: M Job, R Nixon, T Wilson, O McClymont, L Ferguson, B Cullen, E Wilson, R McDonnell, C Easson, C Forster, B Allan

Referee: Steven Turnbull