Carlisle Rugby Club enjoyed a hugely-successful Border City Sevens Festival when more than 1,000 fans watched Saturday’s action.

The new event had actually started on Friday night with a beer festival and three live bands making sure the Warwick Road clubhouse was bouncing.

Barry Earl, who co-ordinated the event, said: “I think we are all really happy with how it went and it really was great to see so many people at the club.

“There were over 200 for the music and the beer on Friday and the matches were watched by a really big ground on Saturday.”

Eight teams took part in the Sevens competition and they were split into two groups with the top two in each contesting the Trophy semi-finals, while the bottom two in each moved into the Plate semi-finals.

The standard was particularly high with some talented players from across the border showing how well they adapt to Sevens rugby.

In fact, it was the South of Scotland squad who emerged triumphant to win the Border City Trophy.

With names like Redpath, Chalmers and Tait in the group, and players from Hawick, Jed Forest, Kelso and Selkirk involved it was no surprise, perhaps, that they finished on top.

They beat another team from across the border – the Power Bombs (made up of Scottish Barbarians) – in the final who received the trophy from Roger Smith, representing one of the main sponsors Thomas Graham.

Chris Lamont of Lamont Pridmore (the other main sponsor) presented the Plate to the Beavers, a team from the north east made-up of players from a number of clubs in that part of the country.

The South of Scotland were impressive throughout the tournament starting with a 64-0 win over the CA Young Boys followed by 77-0 against Border Park.

Their hardest group match was with Raging Bull but they won it 33-15 to set-up a semi-final against Austin Friars Old Boys which they won 33-5.

The final was a classic against the Power Bombs and it was very keenly contested before the South were crowned the first ever champions by virtue of a 26-19 victory.

The Plate was decided on a League basis and the Beavers won it with victories over Carlisle (31-17) and CA Young Boys.

After the success of the first venture, the Border City Sevens Festival looks as though it will become an annual fixture. Next year’s event is planned for June 26/27.