Harrow beat an outstanding field to claim the prestigious Marches 7s title at Hereford Cathedral School, one of the biggest tournaments of the school 7s season.

As markers go ahead of the HSBC Rosslyn Park National School 7s in a fortnight’s time, this is a huge one from Harrow, the winner of the Marches 7s is always one of the key teams at Rosslyn Park.

Harrow won after topping a challenging group that included Wycliffe College, Plymouth College, and Barnard Castle, who went on to win the Plate, only underlining just how superb Harrow were.

They followed the group stage with a stunning 54-0 win over Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf in the quarter finals, the Welsh side had topped Group G, a group that included one of the great Welsh other rugby schools, Coleg Sir Gar.

Harrow followed that up with a good 36-12 win over Group C winners Sir Thomas Rich’s, who had seen off KES Bath in the quarter finals and topped a group of heavyweights, including Blundell’s, King’s Worcester, and Old Swinford Hospital.

The final was the masterpiece of Harrow’s day though. They lined up against Sherborne, a side whose stunning backline in the regular season suggested good 7s season was ahead. They had ousted Millfield, Dean Close, and Monmouth in Group D, a stunning effort in itself. It was Sherborne’s knockout efforts that really showed their quality, first beating Hartpury College 25-10, and then brilliantly beating Wellington College, who won everything they entered last year, 17-12 – though Wellington were admittedly without three key players due to England U18 commitments.

Harrow could have been forgiven for being wary of that Sherborne form heading into the final, but showed no such fear as they charged to a simply outstanding 48-17 victory, deservedly picking up the title.

The Plate meanwhile went to Barnard Castle, who beat a strong Cheltenham College side, they beat Millfield in the semi finals, 40-19.

The Bowl meanwhile was won by the hosts, Hereford Cathedral School, who beat King Edward’s Stratford 29-19 in the final.

Heading back home from Hereford though, there is only one side that people are going to be talking about, Harrow – they will be full of belief now that they can go on to have an outstandingly successful 7s season.

Marches 7s Champions – Harrow

Cup Final

Harrow 48-17 Sherborne

Cup Semi Finals

Sir Thomas Rich’s 12-36 Harrow

Sherborne 17-12 Wellington College

Cup Quarter Finals

KES Bath 14-33 Sir Thomas Rich’s

Harrow 54-0 Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf

Hartpury College 10-25 Sherborne

Llandovery College 10-21 Wellington College

Plate Final

Barnard Castle 40-19 Cheltenham College

Plate Semi Finals

Christ College 12-28 Barnard Castle

Millfield 12-15 Cheltenham College

Plate Quarter Finals

Christ College 15-10 Blundell’s

Barnard Castle 19-7 Coleg Sir Gar

Solihull 0-39 Millfield

Cheltenham College 12-10 Malvern College

Bowl Final

Hereford Cathedral School 29-19 King Edward’s, Stratford

Bowl Semi Finals

Hereford Cathedral School 26-19 Wycliffe College

Dean Close 12-26 King Edward’s, Stratford

Bowl Quarter Finals

Hereford Cathedral School 17-12 King’s Worcester

Wycliffe College 21-19 RGS Worcester

Hereford Cathedral 2^nd VII 5-19 Dean Close

King Edward’s, Stratford 38-26 Worcester 6^th form College