Wellington College got their 7s season off to the perfect start with an undefeated tournament victory at the Shiplake 7s.

The multiple Festival winners at the HSBC Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s are in the Open tournament nowadays, and were in dominant form on Sunday, topping Group A ahead of Radley College and Caterham, before beating Cheltenham College 47-7 in the semi final and then securing a 28-17 victory over Bedford in the final to lift the Cracknell Cup.

It was an impressive outing from Bedford too, who pushed Wellington hard in the final and topped a tricky group containing Abingdon and Shiplake College, which included a highly impressive win over Abingdon, before beating Denstone College 28-14.

Cheltenham went on to lift the Plate after a 17-14 defeat of Denstone College in that final, a good start to the season for the men in red and black hoops.

That was not the end of the silverware, each side had a shot at it. Those finishing second in the groups comented for the Bowl, which Bryanston lifted following an excellent 36-14 defeat of St Edward’s Oxford in the final, which followed a 24-14 defeat of the hosts in the semi final.

St Edward’s own route to the final was an excitingone as they narrowly edged out Caterham 26-24 in the semi final.

There was to be some glory for the hosts, Shiplake, they lifted the Shield after that semi final defeat, beating Caterham 29-7 to lift the trophy.

The bottom school in each group competed in a round robin for the final cup, the Trophy, and it was to be Oakham who collected that after beating both Radley College and Abingdon.

It will be Wellington College that are the school on everyone’s lips after this one though, much is expected of them this 7s season and they have got off to the perfect start. With Millfield also lifting a trophy this weekend, it seems likely that these two will be competing hard against each other at the top of the 7s tree once again.

Shiplake 7s Results & Standings:

Cracknell Cup Winners – Wellington College

Plate Winners – Cheltenham College

Cup Final – Wellington College 28-17 Bedford

Plate Final – Cheltenham College 17-14 Denstone College

Cup Semi Finals – Wellington College 47-7 Cheltenham College, Bedford 28-14 Denstone College

Bowl Winners – Bryanston

Shield Winners – Shiplake College

Bowl Final – Bryanston 36-14 St Edward’s, Oxford

Shield Final – Shiplake College 29-7 Caterham

Bowl Semi Finals – Bryanston 24-14 Shiplake College, St Edward’s, Oxford 26-24 Caterham

Trophy Round Robin: