Hamilton's deny UJ in Melrose final

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) went down to fellow South Africans, Hamilton’s, in the final of the world-famous Melrose Sevens on Saturday.

UJ, captained by Clinton de Klerk (pictured) – as they were during the 2010 Varsity Cup – lost 26-35 to Hamilton’s, the National Club and WP Super League champions, both teams having had a superb few days at the 127th Melrose Sevens.

Speedster Lola Waka, the joint top try-scorer in the 2010 Varsity Cup, scored a hat-trick of tries in the final, with Earl Lewis also prominent on attack – but it was not enough to help UJ to victory, despite the students leading 26-21 at one stage.

The 2010 Melrose Sevens was contested by 24 teams, with UJ returning this year as the defending champions; that after Lewis – who last week starred for the victorious SA Students Sevens side in Morocco – helped his side to victory over the hosts, Melrose, in the final.

Of course, the Melrose Sevens is no stranger to South African – or, rather, Varsity Cup – domination.

Shimlas won the event in 2007, whilst Varsity Cup Kings, Stellenbosch, claimed the silverware in Melrose in 2004 and 2005.

The UJ squad: J Jacobs, E Marutlulle, D Badenhorst, J Swanepoel, L Waka, JP van Rensburg, E van Tonder, A McDonald, C de Klerk, E Lewis.

The full Melrose Sevens results:

First round:
Gala 10 Stirling County 19; Stewarts Melville 21 Boroughmuir 24; Hawick 31 Currie 17; Heriot’s 27 Hawks 14; Kelso 26 Edinburgh Accies 14; Langholm 12 West of Scotland 29; Dundee HSFP 17 Peebles 22; Jed-Forest 24 Aberdeen 19

Second round:
Stirling County 14 Selkirk 24; Boroughmuir 12 UJ 29; Hawick 5 Watsonians 42; Heriot’s 21 Cambridge 17; Kelso 19 Ayr 17; West of Scotland 7 Army of Scotland 33; Peebles 0 Melrose 45; Jed-Forest 0 Hamilton’s 33

Quarterfinals:
Selkirk 12 UJ 19; Watsonians 7 Heriot’s 29; Kelso 12 Army of Scotland 35; Melrose 14 Hamilton’s 17

Semifinals:
UJ 17 Heriot’s 5; Army of Scotland 5 Hamilton’s 35

Final:
UJ 26 Hamilton’s 35