Nevertheless, after eight tournaments the Philiphaugh men remain at the top of the Kings of the Sevens table, seven points ahead of Hawick and 12 clear of Kelso and Watsonians.

Drawn against Hawick in the first tie at Langholm on Saturday, things looked promising for Neil Darling's side when they raced to an early 12-0 lead, thanks to tries from Lee Jones and Gavin Craig, with David Cassidy adding a conversion. However, the Greens scored three unanswered tries and the Souters took early showers.

On Sunday at the Gytes, Scott Hendry, Fraser Harkness and Andrew Renwick returned to the squad after missing the Milntown event. Their first round opponents were Gala, and the tie proved to be one of the most exciting of the afternoon.

Although the Maroons struck first, Selkirk aren't known as the comeback kids for nothing.

Tries from Fraser Harkness, Gavin Craig and Lee Jones, all of which were converted, brought the scores level as full time approached. And Ross Nixon's last-second score was enough to see them through by 26-21.

Selkirk's quarter-final opponents, Watsonians, brushed aside Hawick 33-0 in the previous round, and looked in ominously good form.

The holders continued in the same vein against Selkirk, putting pressure on the ball-carrier and never allowing the Selkirk three-quarters any room for manoeuvre.

The Myreside men led 12-0 at half-time with two tries from Andrew Skeen, and in the second period put the tie beyond Selkirk at 26-0 thanks to touchdowns from Ali Rowe and Eddie Howe.

Selkirk did manage a consolation score from Jones, converted by Nixon, but Watsonians had the final say when Skeen raced over for his third try of the tie to seal Watsonians' emphatic 31-7 victory. The city team went on to repeat their success of the previous year, lifting the cup again following a convincing 47-17 win over Peebles in the final.

On Sunday, Selkirk travel to Earlston for the penultimate Kings tournament.

See draw on page 18.