It was a busy weekend of school 7s, with tournaments at Mount St Mary’s College, Colston’s, Windsor, Reigate Grammar School, and Hereford Cathedral School, among other.
You can see our report from the Reigate Charity 7s at Reigate Grammar School here: Reigate Charity 7s. While our summary of the Marches 7s at Hereford Cathedral School is available here: Marches 7s.
Elsewhere it was a day where the two powerhouses of schools rugby in the North region, Kirkham Grammar School and Sedbergh, showed their brilliance once again, while RGS High Wycombe sealed a brilliant week.
Colston’s 7s
Kirkham Grammar School were utterly outstanding at the Colston’s 7s. They wiped the floor in Group A. They but 59 past Cabot Learning Foundation, 40 past both Clifton College and Prior Park, before beating Bristol Grammar School and Shiplake College.
That sent them into the Cup final, which with just two groups was between the winners of each group. There they faced Group B winners Abingdon, late entrants who had beaten Seaford College, King’s College Taunton, Denstone College, host school Colston’s, and Exeter School.
Abingdon tested Kirkham as much as anyone had, but were still powerless to stop the Blue and White hooped juggernaught as Kirkham sealed a 22-5 victory, and yet another 7s title. They are definitely a side to watch for the remainder of the season.
Exeter School, who had finished second in Group B, meanwhile beat the Group A runners up, Shiplake College, 24-19 to seal the Plate title.
Colston’s 7s Final: Kirkham Grammar School 22-5 Abingdon
Mount St Mary’s 7s
In another wet and wild tournament, the rugby on show at Mount St Mary’s was by all accounts enthralling. Sedbergh claimed the title but had to work hard. They beat Durham in the final following a semi final win over Pocklington.
Durham, meanwhile, had had to beat the always strong QEGS Wakefield in their semi final, but did so to set up the final against Sedbergh.
In the final though, the men in brown were just too strong, sealing victory despite missing Sam Moore and Cameron Redpath, who were playing in England U18’s defeat of France. Another 7s title for Sedbergh as they march towards Rosslyn Park.
Mount St Mary’s 7s Champions – Sedbergh
Windsor 7s
Sunday’s Windsor 7s was a very interesting tournament, there were some serial winners in the competition, including Bedford and RGS High Wcyombe, with a number of sides who have been performing well this season, such as Merchant Taylors’ and Stowe.
Stowe were shocked early on though by a 19-17 defeat to an inspired St Benedict’s. Indeed this was almost the day of the underdogs as St Edward’s Oxford, perhaps inspired by having had England training at the school all week, beat Bedford, who have two titles already this season, in the semi finals.
The other semi final saw RGS High Wycombe, who had won the Solihull 7s in midweek, beat Eton College.
The question was, then, could St Edward’s repeat the trick in the final and slay another trophy winner for a shock win.
They came oh so close, but ultimately RGS held strong to secure a 12-10 win and a brilliant second title in five days, a quite brilliant achievement, and one that signals them as a side to really watch for the remainder of the 7s season.
Windsor 7s Final: RGS High Wycombe 12-10 St Edward’s Oxford
