The Barbarians struck a note for British ability to play things off the cuff when a team put together over 24 hours humbled the great Fijian Sevens side Nawaka by 38-19 to win the 111th Tillney Investment Management Melrose Sevens.

Barbarians spokesman Mickey Steele-Bodger said: ``The secret was that we pressurised them in a way that other sides had not been able to, then they made mistakes.''

Nawaka, who were playing their 21st tournament on the trot, were shocked to find themselves 12-0 behind after two minutes of the final.

Conan Sharman immediately fastened onto a kick by Simon Webster for a try which he converted.

From the re-start the Fijians put on pressure but Sharman broke a tackle on his 22 and sprinted upfield for another try.

With the Baabaas taking on the Fijians physically through Owen Williams and Luke Sheriff in particular, they continued to dominate the first-half scoring twice through Scotland under-21 winger Webster, to lead 26-0 at the interval.

Any chance of a Nawaka comeback was immediately dispelled when Scotland international winger Shaun Longstaff scored from the restart.

Another try, an opportunist effort from Webster for his hat-trick, allowed the Baabaas to relax and Nawaka ran in tries through Temesia Kaumaia, Norman Ligairi and Vuniani Derenalagi.

The highlight of the opening rounds of another exciting tournament had been the progress of Scottish debutants Kirkcaldy.

Having seen off Currie, they took the scalp of Hawick, who had beaten them three times this season in the 15-man version of the game, to reach the quarter finals where the Barbarians beat them 26-14.

Another talking point was the failure of all the Border sides bar Melrose to win a match.

The hosts finally went down bravely in the quarter-finals to Christchurch.

With a brace of tries from Bruce Ruthven they pulled the Kiwis back to 12-12 before the visitors' extra pace saw them home by 29-17.

The first semi-final was a replay of last year's final with the defending champions Nawaka taking on Christchurch.

In a cagey contest the Fijians eventually squeezed through by 17-12.

A couple of early tries, from Norman Ligairi and Apisai Naro seemed to have sent Nawaka on their way.

But they relaxed and Christchurch hit back to tie the scores with tries from Peter Bowden and Spida Hunter.

Just when it looked like going to a golden try, Temesia Kaumaia's fifth try of the day broke the deadlock.

In the other semi, two tries in as many minutes from Sharman and then Darren Burns allowed the Baabaas to turn leading Glasgow Hawks 14-7.

Hawks, the only Scottish club side to reach the semi-finals, felt the extra game they had been forced to play as the tie wore on, and the Baabaas eased home by 24-12.