Day 3 of the 2015 HSBC Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s saw the conclusion of the Colts tournament and the start of the Festival.
The Colts tournament began yesterday, kicking us off with the last 16 round today, while the Festival started with the Group Stage, before an elimination round ahead of the Quarter Final Pools and Plate Quarter Final Pools being decided for tomorrow – the Festival has five three team quarter final pools, then two three team semi final pools, with the final being played between the winner of those two pools.
Colts
Reigate Grammar School won the Colts competition beating Eton College in a thrilling final that ended 19-19 before Reigate took the win through a Golden Try in extra time, securing a 24-19 victory, after leading 12-0 they possibly thought they had blown it after letting Eton back in, but they stayed in it to win it in dramatic fashion.
It was a fitting end to the day, Eton and Reigate were the class of the field, beating some of the most famous rugby schools in the country along the way.
The day started at the last 16 stage, where Reigate beat Wallington County Grammar by a stunning 40-5 scoreline. That set up a quarter final against Wellington College, so impressive yesterday, but Reigate again were in scintillating form, securing a superb 31-7 victory.
Eton meanwhile had beaten Ellesmere 22-14 in the last 16 and were 31-14 victors over St John’s Leatherhead in the quarter finals.
The semi finals pitted Eton against that rugby hothouse, Millfield. Eton were more than up to the challenge, winning 26-19, while Reigate went past the excellent Stowe with a 28-12 win.
It set up for a tense and tight final but Reigate were probably the deserved winners in the end, certainly their early round victories were the ones that were the talk of the grounds throughout the day.
Festival
The Festival began today with the group stages and ended with the Quarter Final qualification round, which decided the draws for the Cup Quarter Finals Pools and the Plate Quarter Final Pools tomorrow.
The Group Winners plus the best runners up competed, in the qualification round, which yielded some interesting results.
Blundell’s, who had a highly impressive day beat Bradford Grammar School 29-0, putting them in Cup Pool 2 alongside Epsom College, who beat Ellesmere College 22-14 and Stowe, who were 14-12 winners over Cranleigh. Bradford, Cranleigh, and Ellesmere will compete in Plate Pool 2 tomorrow too.
Kingswood were one of our pre tournament favourites, and certainly remain so after an impressive day, which culminated in a 31-7 victory over Gresham’s in the qualification round.
That put them in Cup quarter final pool 5, where Barnard Castle and Seaford College join them after beating Worth and Loretto respectively, both of whom joi Gresham’s in Plate pool 5.
Tonbridge racked up the biggest score of the round, beating Millfield 2nd VII 52-0 to secure their place in Quarter Final Pool 4. Do not be fooled by the 2nd VII tag, Millfield had already proved to be a good side in just reaching this stage, Tonbridge are absolutely among the favourites.
They must get past Denstone College and Berkhamsted first though, they beat Reed’s and Caterham respectively to reach the quarter finals pools, Denstone’s narrow defeat of Reed’s being particularly impressive given Reed’s quality this year.
Quarter Final Pool 1 is one to look out for, KCS Wimbledon, last year’s runners up, beat Canford 31-14, while Monmouth, another favourite, beat King’s College Taunton 17-12, and Stonyhurst, yet another threat, beat Prior Park 26-24.
That leaves quarter final group 3, which also includes some potential big names in this competition, not least Bedford Modern, who beat Royal Hospital School 34-12. KES Bath, who enjoyed a very good day, join them after a 26-0 defeat of AKS Arnold, with Cheltenham College completing the group, and also eyeing up the trophy, with a 38-12 victory over a strong Felsted VII.
It was yet another excellent day of rugby at the HSBC Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s, with the weather again holding strong despite some reports to the contrary.
There were plenty of excellent performances in the Festival, but plaudits for the day must go to Reigate Grammar School U16s for their excellent day as they lifted the Colts trophy, with a doff of the cap to Eton College, who were also excellent.
You can see our preview for Day 4 at the HSBC Rosslyn Park National School 7s here – Day 4 Preview.
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Day 3 Results:
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Colts
Final:
Eton College 19-24 Reigate Grammar School (Golden Try)
Semi Finals:
Millfield 19-26 Eton College
Stowe 12-28 Reigate Grammar School
Quarter Finals:
Warwick 5-28 Millfield
St John’s, Leatherhead 14-31 Eton College
Bedford 14-19 Stowe
Reigate Grammar School 31-7 Wellington College
Last 16:
QEGS Wakefield 12-31 Warwick
Canford 14-21 Millfield
Clifton College 19-21 St John’s, Leatherhead
Heathfiled Community College 7-27 Eton College
Bedford 24-17 Bromsgrove
Tonbridge 7-22 Stowe
Reigate GS 40-5 Wallington CGS
Brighton College 7-15 Wellington College
Festival
Festival Quarter Final Qualification Round:
AKS Arnold 0-26 KES Bath
Blundell’s 29-0 Bradford GS
Cheltenham College 38-12 Felsted
Denstone College 22-19 Reed’s
KCS Wimbledon 31-14 Canford
Caterham 14-36 Berkhamsted
Cranleigh 12-14 Stowe
Gresham’s 7-31 Kingswood
Prior Park 24-26 Stonyhurst
Tonbridge 52-0 Millfield 2nd VII
Barnard Castle 38-14 Worth
Epsom College 22-14 Ellesmere College
King’s College Taunton 12-17 Monmouth
Loretto 19-24 Seaford College
Royal Hospital School 12-34 Bedford Modern