was or were

were is correct.

a pair of men = 2 men

a pair of scissors = 1 scissors

A pair of scissors is on the table, but the scissors are on the table.

Thanks, Region and contrex.

A pair of Romanian men were sentenced to three years jail for stealing $75,000 from ATMs using cloned cards.

A pair of scissors were also implicated in the crime due to the cut of their cloth but sheer luck saw the tearways avoid the thin edge of the wedge.

It's the 'thin end of the wedge'

And a cutting riposte is materiel.

The noetic 'edge of the wedge' has a guernsey in lexicons.