Scotland 7s have won the Plate trophy at the Manchester 7s today, after beating Belgium 33-7 in the second-tier final.Finishing fifth, above core IRB World Series teams, Wales and Portugal, means new head coach Calum MacRae marks his first tournament in charge with silverware. However, for the former short-game player this is only a starting point and hard work needs to be done to continue to raise the standards within the team, ahead of the forthcoming HSBC Sevens World Series.He said: “This is a good starting point for this group, however we have to keep setting our standards higher so the expectation levels of the team rises. “A lot of my decisions this weekend were around looking at combinations to see what works within our game strategies.We were one of the highest try scoring teams this weekend. I know this team can score tries, so I have asked them to raise the consistence of their performances in their defence.”Nyle Godsmark, considering the amount of involvement he has had at this level, I thought he stood out. I’m also pleased we have finished on a more complete performance that we can build on going into Bucharest next week.”Across the weekend, at the A J Bell Stadium, the home of Sale Sharks, the Scots won four of six games.  On both days they lost their opening match.On Saturday, after losing 5-12 to Spain they grew in confidence and saw off Italy, 24-19 and then Georgia 45-0.  This set them up for a Cup quarter-final with Russia today.In that game the team’s discipline let them down with, a series of penalties lending the momentum to their opponents and a yellow card for Scott Riddell.Russia were physical in attack and this resulted in tries for Eduard Filatov, Dmitry Perov and Stanislav Bondarev, the first of which was converted by Perov.Against Germany, in the Plate semi-final, the team were back to winning ways with a five-try thriller, which ended 35-12.When the Scots were in possession they looked comfortable in themselves, similar to the tie the previous day against Italy, and their shape was creating gaps in their opponents defence, which they capitalised on.Gregor, Scotland’s top scorerJames Johnstone put down a marker for the team early-on, scoring the first try within 22 seconds of the starting whistle.  In the first half, tries then followed from Colin Gregor, who was Scotland’s top scorer this weekend, with five tries and 13 conversions, and Riddell.Lewis Young and James Fleming were the scorers in the second period.  All five tries were converted, four by Gregor and one by captain Scott Wight.Germany’s points were scored on the hooter at the end of each half with Raynor Parkinson and Jerome Ruhnau claiming the plaudits. Fabia Heimpel converted Parkinson’s try.In their third match, Scotland seemed to be in their stride, again similar to the Georgia game the day before, commanding the momentum of the tie. This saw them win the Plate 33-7 v Belgium.Godsmark, the Edinburgh Accies full-back was one of the stand-out performers in the team setting up tries for Gregor, James Johnstone and himself with a lovely step on each occasion.Scotland took the lead in the first minute when Riddell won Wight’s kick-off and then following a series of phases was the man on the end of the first try.Gregor’s try then followed in the first half before Belgium’s star player Vincent Hart set off on a clever counter attack that saw the Belgian’s on the board at half-time.  He converted his own score making it 12-7 to the Scots at the break.Some three tries followed in the second period for Scotland as they cemented their victory. The scorers were Johnstone, Godsmark and finally Struan Dewar after Belgium’s Tornike Megrelidze was red carded. The match ended 33-7.Scotland 7s will play one more Rugby Europe Grand Prix Sevens Series tournament, next weekend (20-21 September) in Bucharest before their 2014-15 HSBC Sevens World Series campaign gets underway on the Gold Coast, Australia in October. Manchester 7s day two (Rugby Europe)Scotland 0-17 Russia (Cup quarter-final) Starting team: Scott Riddell, Struan Dewar, James Johnstone, Colin Gregor, Mark Robertson, Nyle Godsmark and Scott Wight (captain).Replacements: James Fleming, Max McFarland, Gregor young (all 12 mins), Lewis Young and Colin Shaw (not used). Scotland 35-12 Germany (Plate semi-final)Tries: James Johnstone, Colin Gregor, Scott Riddell, Lewis Young and James FlemingConversions: Colin Gregor (4) and Scott WightStarting team: Scott Riddell, James Johnstone, Colin Gregor, Mark Robertson, Gregor Young, Scott Wight (captain) and Lewis Young.Replacements: Colin Shaw (7 mins), James Fleming, Max McFarland (10 mins), Struan Dewar and Nyle Godsmark (not used). Scotland 33-7 Belgium (Plate final)Tries: Scott Riddell, Colin Gregor, James Johnstone, Nyle Godsmark and Struan DewarConversions: Colin Gregor (4)Starting team: Scott Riddell, James Johnstone, Colin Gregor, Mark Robertson, Nyle Godsmark, Gregor Young and Scott Wight (captain).Replacements: Dewar (11 mins), Lewis Young, James Fleming (both 12 mins), Max McFarland, Colin Shaw (14 mins).Manchester 7s day one (Rugby Europe) Scotland 5-12 SpainTry: Colin GregorStarting team: Scott Riddell, Struan Dewar, James Johnstone, Colin Gregor, Mark Robertson, Scott Wight (captain) and James Fleming.Replacements: Nyle Godsmark, Max McFarland, Gregor Young (all 10 mins), Colin Shaw (12 mins) and Lewis Young (not used).Scotland 24-19 ItalyTries: James Johnstone, Max McFarland, Colin Gregor and Colin ShawConversions: Colin Gregor (2)Starting team: Scott Riddell, Struan Dewar, James Johnstone, Colin Gregor, Mark Robertson, Max McFarland and Scott Wight (captain).Replacements: Colin Shaw, Nyle Godsmark, Lewis Young (all 10 mins), James Fleming and Gregor Young (not used).Scotland 45-0 GeorgiaTries: Mark Robertson (2), Struan Dewar, Colin Gregor (2), Lewis Young and Scott WightConversions: Colin Gregor (3) and Scott Wight (2)Starting team: Scott Riddell, Struan Dewar, James Johnstone, Colin Gregor, Mark Robertson, Nyle Godsmark and Scott Wight (captain).Replacements: Gregor Young, Max McFarland (both 9 mins), James Fleming, Lewis Young (both 11 mins) and Colin Shaw (13 mins).