Millfield put in a stunning series of performances to win the Surrey 7s, continuing their brilliant 7s form and shooting to the top of the favourites list for the Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s next week.
It was an outstanding day from the Somerset side, who have won every tournament that they have entered, but they saved their very best for the final, where they beat an excellent St Joseph’s College side 40-7.
Their only truly tough test came in the semi final where the other outstanding side from the southern circuit, Wellington College, lay in wait.
Millfield raced out to a 17-0 lead as a yellow card for Wellington left them stretched. Wellington are a quality side and came fighting back though, however Millfield had built up too much of an early advantage and ran out as 22-10 winners.
It was incredible that in such a strong field that Millfield should have things go so far their own way all day. The likes of Tonbridge and Brighton College, two outstanding 7s teams this year, could only make it as far as the last 16, while two top teams in Whitgift and Hampton were contesting the Plate final, with Whitgift winning 22-15.
St Joseph’s were mightily impressive too though, they knocked out two AASE Colleges on their way t the final, Henley College and the reigning champions Oaklands. The Ipswich based side certainly seem to be peaking at the right time after a slow start to the 7s season.
With Rosslyn Park just around the corner though, Millfield are now surely the favourites for that, though we can be sure that the likes of Wellington and St Joseph’s will be knocking next week too, while the two sides contesting yesterday’s Hymers College 7s final, Woodhouse Grove and Sedbergh, will also be in the hunt.
Perhaps the most impressive thing about Millfield’s performance was actually their defence. They did not concede a single try in the group stages and only conceded four in the knockout stages, an incredible feat given the standard of the opposition.
Ultimately though it will be their attack that sends shivers down the opposition’s spines. With strike runners like Whitely and Hopkins, who both impressed with doubles in the final, they are a side that can cause problems from anywhere.
The question is, can anyone come up with a solution to beat them by next week?
Cup Knockout Results:
Champions – Millfield
Final: St Joseph’s College 7-40 Millfield
Semi Finals:
Oaklands 12-24 St Joseph’s College
Millfield 22-10 Wellington College
Quarter Finals:
Oaklands 21-7 Cranleigh
St Joseph’s College 33-17 St John’s Leatherhead
Millfield 26-0 Epsom College
Wellington College 17-14 Truro College
Last 16:
Oaklands 19-17 Harrow
Cranleigh 27-19 Filton
St Joseph’s College 31-10 Henley College
St John’s Leatherhead 32-19 Tonbridge
Bishop Wordsworth’s 7-47 Millfield
Brighton College 12-17 Epsom College
Wellington College 12-5 John Fisher
St Benedict’s 12-43 Truro College
Plate Results:
Champions – Whitgift
Final: Whitgift 22-15 Hampton
Semi Finals:
Whitgift 17-14 Wimbledon College
KCS Wimbledon 12-24 Hampton
Quarter Finals:
Whitgift 52-7 RGS Guildford
Wimbledon College 22-0 Caterham
Tiffin 5-31 KCS Wimbledon
City of London Freemen’s 7-22 Hampton
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2014 Surrey 7s – Final Pool Standings |
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Group |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
|
Group A |
Oaklands |
Bishop Wordsworth’s |
KCS Wimbledon |
Eltham College |
|
Group B |
Cranleigh |
Truro College |
Caterham |
Gordon’s   School |
|
Group C |
SGS Filton College |
Tiffin |
Eastbourne College |
Richmond College |
|
Group D |
St Joseph’s College |
Wimbledon College |
Bishop Wordsworth’s 2nd VII |
GP Vanier (Canada) |
|
Group E |
Henley College |
City of London Freemen’s |
KES Stratford |
RGS Guildford |
|
Group F |
St John’s Leatherhead |
Whitgift |
Abingdon |
Wallington County GS |
|
Group G |
Millfield |
Felsted |
Chislehurst & Sidcup |
Dulwich College |
|
Group H |
Brighton College |
Harrow |
Hampton |
Reigate Grammar School |
|
Group I |
Epsom College |
London Oratory |
Portsmouth Grammar |
Reed’s |
|
Group J |
Wellington College |
Skinners’ |
Sevenoaks |
Eton College |
|
Group K |
John Fisher |
Campion |
Hurstpierpoint College |
Moulton College |
|
Group L |
St Benedict’s |
Tonbridge |
St Olave’s Grammar |
Hurtwood House |