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 A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
Tonbridge | Seaford College | Bedford | Haileybury |
Shiplake College | Cheltenham College | Abingdon | Radley College |
Caterham | Hurstpierpoint College | Oakham | Worth |
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 1 | Group 2 | Group 3 | Group 4 |
Wellington College | Sherborne | Portsmouth Grammar School | St Paul’s Catholic College |
Reigate Grammar School | Brighton College | Millfield | Eastbourne College |
Witchurch High School | Hartpury College | The Oratory | Canford |
Peter Symonds’ College | Merchant Taylors’ | Lord Wandsworth College | KCS Wimbledon |