Schools Rugby Weekend Roundup: Bedford & Wellington shine as the 7s season begins

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With the 7s season kicking off for many, it was a hugely exciting weekend of schools rugby this weekend.

 

The Shiplake 7s and the South Coast 7s both took place, and we were treated to an early display of dominance from a couple of sides who look likely to be among the most prominent trophy collectors this season.

 

At Portsmouth Grammar School Wellington College snapped up the title, beating a strong Sherborne side (who beat them in the fifteen-a-side season) 10-7 in the final.

 

Meanwhile Bedford, the Champions Trophy winners, confirmed suspicions that they would be just as good in the shortened game as they were in the long form of the game last term as they lifted the Cracknell Cup at the Shiplake 7s, beating Tonbridge, always a top 7s side, 26-10 in the final.

 

Shiplake 7s

 

Bedford topped a tough Group C that included Abgindon and Oakham, while their opponents in the final, Tonbridge, came out on top in Group A, beating Caterham and the hosts, Shiplake College.

 

That put those two in the Cracknell Cup semi finals, with Tonbridge playing Group D winners Haileybury, and winning 45-19, while Bedford beat Group B winners Seaford College 29-19.

 

The two losers competed for the Howe Plate, with Seaford picking up that title after a 26-17 win over Haileybury.

 

The Bowl was won by Cheltenham College, 17-12 winners over Radley College, with Abingdon beating hosts Shiplake to the Shield, by a slender 24-21 margin.

 

It was Worth who collected the Trophy, with a 19-10 win over Hurstpierpoint, while Oakham picked up the final piece of silverware, the Vase, by beating Caterham 17-10.

 

The story of the day though was Bedford, whose dominance all day and 26-10 victory over Tonbridge in the final, suggests that they will be right up there throughout the 7s season.

 

South Coast 7s

 

So too will Wellington College, the dominant side in last year’s 7s season as they won every trophy available to them.

 

They started off in flying form at Portsmouth Grammar, topping a group that included Reigate Grammar, Whitchurch High School, and Peter Symonds’ College.

 

They went on to beat Group 2 runners up, Brighton College, 26-7 in the quarter finals ahead of a 24-10 semi final win over Group 4 table toppers, St Paul’s Catholic College.

 

Sherborne meanwhile had topped that tricky Group 2 ahead of Brighton College and then beaten Reigate Grammar, who’s team are reigning Colts champions at Rosslyn Park, by a commanding 44-10 in the quarter finals.

 

A 35-5 win over Eastbourne College took them through to the final, but Wellington College showed all of their class and 7s experience to win 10-7 and take home the Cup.

 

The Plate was won by Millfield, who finished second in Group 3 behind the hosts and then lost17-10 to St Paul’s Catholic College in the quarter finals. That put them in the semi finals where they faced Brighton College, winning 24-19.

 

Reigate Grammar beat Portsmouth Grammar 22-7 in the other semi finals, but Millfield halted Reigate’s silverware chances with a 22-17 victory in the Plate final.

 

The Shield, meanwhile, was won by Whitchurch High, who beat KCS Wimbledon 19-0 in the final, while the Bowl was won by Hartpury College, 33-5 victors over The Oratory.

 

Once again though, Wellington College look very much like one of the teams to beat this year, keep an eye out for Sherborne though, they could well be in contention for silverware this season.

 

Saturday Rugby

 

On Saturday there were still a few fifteen-a-side fixtures taking place as the season draws towards a close. Bishop Vesey’s beat Shrewsbury 42-5, while City of London Freemen’s were also in dominant form, beating Glyn 32-0.

 

Things were closer in Stratford, where KES beat Nottingham High School 8-5, and that results was repeated at New Hall, where they beat St Olave’s Grammar.

 

The closest game of the day though saw St Ambrose sneak to a 29-28 thrilling win over Queen Ethelburga’s.

 

Chislehurst & Sidcup continued their superb season, beating Dartford Grammar 20-0, while Loughborough Grammar beat Old Swinford Hospital 24-5. Tiffin meanwhile beat St George’s Harpenden 12-0, while Judd impressed against Wallington County Grammar, winning 29-7.

 

If you have any photos, reports, or videos from the weekend’s rugby, please send them in to writers@fifteenrugby.com

 

Schools Rugby Weekend Results:

 

Saturday

 

Bishop Vesey’s GS 42-5 Shrewsbury

Dartford GS 0-20 Chislehurst & Sidcup GS

Glyn 0-32 City of London Freemen’s

KES Stratford 8-5 Nottingham HS

Loughborough GS 24-5 Old Swinford Hospital

New Hall 8-5 St Olave’s GS

St Ambrose College 29-28 Queen Ethelburga’s College

St George’s Harpenden 0-12 Tiffin

St Joseph’s College v Campion – Still to come

Wallington CGS 7-29 Judd

 

Sunday 7s:

 

Shiplake College 7s Results

 

Cracknell Cup

 

Bedford 26-10 Tonbridge

 

Howe Plate

 

Seaford College 26-17 Haileybury

 

Semi Finals

 

Tonbridge 45-19 Haileybury

Bedford 29-19 Seaford College

 

Bowl

 

Cheltenham College 17-12 Radley College

 

Shield

 

Abingdon 24-21 Shiplake College

 

Semi Finals

 

Cheltenham College 17-12 Abingdon

Radley College 31-26 Shiplake College

 

Trophy

 

Worth 19-10 Hurstpierpoint College

 

Vase

 

Oakham 17-10 Caterham

 

Semi Finals

 

Worth 31-10 Caterham

Hurstpierpoint College 22-19 Oakham

 

 

Shiplake 7s Group Final Standings
Group AGroup BGroup CGroup D
TonbridgeSeaford CollegeBedfordHaileybury
Shiplake CollegeCheltenham CollegeAbingdonRadley College
CaterhamHurstpierpoint CollegeOakhamWorth

 

 

South Coast 7s Results:

 

Cup Final

 

Wellington College 10-7 Sherborne

 

Semi Finals

 

Wellington College 24-10 St Paul’s Catholic College

Sherborne 35-5 Eastbourne College

 

Quarter Finals

 

Wellington College 26-7 Brighton College

St Paul’s Catholic College 17-10 Millfield

Sherborne 44-10 Reigate Grammar

Eastbourne College 15-7 Portsmouth Grammar

 

Plate Final

 

Millfield 22-17 Reigate Grammar

 

Semi Finals

 

Millfield 24-19 Brighton College

Reigate Grammar 22-7 Portsmouth Grammar

 

Shield Final

 

Whitchurch High 19-0 KCS Wimbledon

 

Semi Finals

 

Whitchurch High 22-12 Lord Wandsworth College

KCS Wimbledon 29-0 Peter Symonds’ College

 

Quarter Finals

 

Whitchurch High 24-14 Hartpury College

Lord Wandsworth College 20-17 Canford

KCS Wimbledon 29-0 The Oratory

Peter Symonds’ College 17-7 Merchant Taylors

 

Bowl Final

 

Hartpury College 33-5 The Oratory

 

Semi Finals

 

Hartpury College 27-19 Candford

The Oratory 27-14 Merchant Taylors

 

Plate of the Tournament: Matt Williams (Wellington College)

 

South Coast 7s Group Final Standings
Group 1Group 2Group 3Group 4
Wellington CollegeSherbornePortsmouth Grammar SchoolSt Paul’s Catholic College
Reigate Grammar SchoolBrighton CollegeMillfieldEastbourne College
Witchurch High SchoolHartpury CollegeThe OratoryCanford
Peter Symonds’ CollegeMerchant Taylors’Lord Wandsworth CollegeKCS Wimbledon
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