Tuesday saw the Colts tournament kick off at the 2017 Rosslyn Park HSBC Rosslyn Par National School 7s, with some fantastic rugby being played across the grounds.
Kick offs seemed to be the fans’ favourite topic for the day with some truly outstanding kick off routines on display, not least from Wellington College’s Will Sinfield.
His side enjoyed a brilliant day at the 7s, qualifying for tomorrow’s last 16, where they will face an equally in form Harrow School. Wellington topped Group H before a stunning last 32 performance saw them beat Kirkham Gramar School 50-0, their superior power and pace proving simply too much to handle.
Harrow had topped Group F, and came through a last 32 challenge against an RGS Guildford side who had knocked out Epsom College in the Groups. In the end it was comfortable for Harrow, 31-12, but RGS made them work.
Brighton College also look in flying form, and are in the Wellington/Harrow section of the draw. The reigning champions topped Group A before beating a much talked about Sherborne side 29-0 in their last 32 game, a tremendous result.
Their last 16 opponents will be Colston’s who had one of the biggest scorelines of the day as they beat Ipswich 62-0 in the last 32 after topping Group D ahead of Norwich and King’s Macclesfield.
Portsmouth Grammar School, meanwhile have quietly impressed everyone as they topped an incredibly tough Group L, that included Stowe, RHS, QEGS Wakefield, and Bro Teifi, before securing a brilliant 21-7 last 32 victory over the impressive Whitgift.
Their reward is a last 16 tie against a tough looking Warwick side, who came through a real end to end tussle in their last 32 game, beating Cowbridge Comprehensive 26-21.
Two schools really worth keeping an eye on are Woodhouse Grove and Dulwich College, who will meet in tomorrow’s last 16. Woodhouse Grove came through a really tricky Group Q, getting past Denstone College, KES Bath, Truro, and St Benedict’s, before a very strong 38-5 win over Ysgol Y Preseli. Dulwich College, meanwhile, were top of Group T before coming through a brute of a last 32 game, eventually beating RGS Newcastle 28-21.
Millfield are always strong challengers at any age-group, and look to be so again. They came through unscathed from Group X, before a good 33-5 last 32 win against Newcastle-Under-Lyme.
They will face Uppingham on RE2 tomorrow afternoon, Uppingham were one of the surprise packages today, topping Group V, including a stunning game against Bedford, which they won 33-31. They then produced more fireworks in the last 32, beating Uffculme 50-10.
Right at the foot of the draw, RGS High Wycombe are quietly looking good, they beat Barnard Castle 33-17 in their last 32 game, and face Wimbledon College tomorrow in the last 16, who came through in a thriller, 36-28, against Llandovery College in their last 32 fixture.
Sedbergh are another side that are always there or thereabouts, and they look strong once again. Having closed out Group I, they then put in an outstanding last 32 performance to beat Maidstone Grammar School 54-7. They face Aylesbury Grammar School in the last 32, who look no less impressive. They put 40 past Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg in their last 32 game.
Eton College had a number of spectators nodding impressively at their play today, and no wonder. After heading up Group Z they then beat a strong Clifton College side 43-7 in the last 32. They face Blundell’s in the last 16, who beat Ivybridge Community College, so strong in these age-groups, 39-12 in the last 32. Keep an eye on that game tomorrow, both sides are looking good.
Overall though it was not just a day for those who went through, but a day for every school competing. In bright sunshine, perhaps the only sunshine of the week (!), there were some wonderful moments fro each and every school, all of which bodes very well for next year’s 1st XVs and 1st VIIs.
The side to look out for tomorrow would appear to be Wellington College at this stage, but if there is one thing that everyone knows about Rosslyn Park, it is never to count those chickens – there is still plenty of rugby to be played.
The Colts action all kicks off from 1pm tomorrow on the main pitches, with the U18 Vase starting things off in the morning on what promises to be one of the best days of the tournament.
Colts Last 16 (Wednesday 22nd March – Starts from 13.00, Final at 16.40)
Brighton College v Colston’s – RE1, 1pm
Harrow v Wellington College – RE2, 1pm
Sedbergh v Aylesbury Grammar School – RE3, 13.00
Portsmouth Grammar School v Warwick – RE4, 13.00
Woodhouse Grove v Dulwich College – RE1, 13.20
Uppingham v Millfield – RE2, 13.20
Blundell’s v Eton College – RE3, 13.20
RGS High Wycombe v Wimbledon College – RE4, 13.20
Colts Last 32 Round Results:
Brighton College (Winner A) 29-0 Sherborne (Winner B)
Ipswich (C) 0-62 Colston’s (D)
RGS Guildford (E) 12-31 Harrow (F)
Kirkham Grammar School (G) 0-50 Wellington College (H)
Sedbergh (I) 54-7 Maidstone Grammar School (J)
Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg (K) 5-40 Aylesbury Grammar School (R)
Portsmouth Grammar School (L) 21-7 Whitgift (M)
Warwick (N) 26-21 Cowbridge Comprehensive (O)
Ysgol Y Preseli (P) 5-38 Woodhouse Grove (Q)
RGS Newcastle (S) 21-28 Dulwich College (T)
Uffculme (U) 10-50 Uppingham (V)
Newcastle-Under-Lyme (W) 5-33 Millfield (X)
Ivybridge Community College (Y) 12-39 Blundell’s (FF)
Eton College (Z) 43-7 Clifton College (AA)
RGS High Wycombe (BB) 33-17 Barnard Castle (CC)
Wimbledon College (DD) 36-28 Llandovery College (EE)
HSBC Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s Colts Groups (176 Teams):
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
| Brighton College | Sherborne | Ipswich | Colston’s |
| Pocklington | Cardiff HS | St Paul’s | Norwich |
| Howard of Effingham | Worksop College | Loughborough | King’s Macclesfield |
| Oundle | Birkdale HS | Yarm | Ysgol Gyfun Bryn Tawe |
| Loretto | Cedars | International College Beirut | TNS Beaconhouse |
| Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H |
| RGS Guildford | Harrow | Kirkham GS | Wellington College |
| Epsom College | Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni | Berkhamsted | Brynteg Comprehensive |
| Dr Challoner’s GS | Halliford | Mount St Mary’s College | UCS |
| Trent College | Clayesmore | Cefn Saeson | Perins |
| Rodillian | Torquay BGS | Sidcot School | The Brunts Academy |
| Group I | Group J | Group K | Group L |
| Sedbergh | Maidstone GS | Ysgol Gyfun Garth Olwg | Portsmouth GS |
| Dean Close | St Joseph’s College | Durham | Stowe |
| Hampton | Llangatwg CC | John Fisher | Royal Hospital School |
| Devonport HS | Shebbear College | KES Stratford | QEGS Wakefield |
| Duke of York’s RMS | Ysgol Bae Baglan | Prior Park College | Ysgol Bro Teifi |
| Group M | Group N | Group O | Group P |
| Whitgift | Warwick | Cowbridge Comprehensive | Ysgol Y Preseli |
| Leicester GS | Ysgol Sir Thomas Picton | Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf | Campion |
| St Peter’s York | Ysgol Bro Dinefwr | Weston College | King’s College Taunton |
| Marlborough College | Bloxham | Weston College | Hinchley Wood |
| Aberdawe CC | Cabot Learning Federation | Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf | Ysgol Gyfun Bro Morgannwg |
| Group Q | Group R | Group S | Group T |
| Woodhouse Grove | Aylesbury GS | RGS Newcastle | Dulwich College |
| Denstone College | St George’s College | Cheltenham College | Seaford College |
| KES Bath | Plymouth College | Llandaff Cathedral | RGS Worcester |
| Truro | Bedford Modern | King’s Canterbury | Coopers’ Coborn |
| St Benedict’s | Rydal Penrhos | Hymers College | St Illtyd’s |
| Group U | Group V | Group W | Group X |
| Uffculme | Uppingham | Newcastle-Under-Lyme | Millfield |
| Sutton Valence | Bedford | Canford | Langley |
| Whitchurch | Bristol Grammar | Wallington CGS | Tiffin |
| Ampleforth College | Bristol Free School | KCS Wimbledon | Rutlish |
| Reigate Grammar School | Lord Wandsworth College | Bishop’s Stortford College | St Olave’s GS |
| Group Y | Group Z | Group AA | Group BB |
| Ivybridge CC | Eton College | Clifton College | RGS High Wycombe |
| The Perse | Bromsgrove | Pontyprid HS | City of London Freemen’s |
| Pangbourne College | St John’s, Leatherhead | Tonbridge | Eastbourne College |
| Trinity | Newbridge Comprehensive | The Oratory | Merchant Taylors’ |
| Ysgol Gyfun Gwyr | QEH | Monmouth | Woodbridge |
| Group CC | Group DD | Group EE | Group FF |
| Barnard Castle | Wimbledon College | Llandovery College | Blundell’s |
| St Edward’s Oxford | Oakham | Worth | New Hall |
| Shrewsbury | Bishop Wordsworth’s | Judd | Ysgol Dyffryn Amann |
| King’s Worcester | QES, Barnet | Bryanston | Christ College, Brecon |
| Robert Clack | Wisbech GS | Rugby | Eltham College |