On a busy day at the Rosslyn Park HSBC National School 7s, the Prep Schools Tournament was a new addition to the Friday schedule.
Moved from the traditional Monday slot to accommodate the sheer number of fixtures required for the new waterfall tournament, 68 teams took part in a huge round robin.
From their initial groups, each school then played in a second pool stage, with six pools for group winners, six for those who finished second in their original pool, five for those finishing third, and five for those who finished at the bottom of the first round pools.
That meant that there were six teams that topped two separate pools over the course of the day, and though there are no ‘official’ tournament winners, these six can consider themselves to have shared the tournament between them.
Taunton Prep School finished top of the pile in Group AA ahead of Bedford Prep and Llandovery College Prep, with Cheltenham College finishing ahead of Terrington Hall and King’s Rochester in Group BB.
St Olave’s York capped a rather successful day for schools from the northern region, topping Group CC ahead of Aldro, and Dulwich Prep, always a threat in this Prep Schools competition.
Moulsford were in charge in Group DD, beating some prestigious opposition in the form of Millfield Prep and St Paul’s Prep, securing their place as one of the top six sides in the competition.
Over in Group EE it was Feltonfleet that finished on top of the pile, heading up a group including King’s Hall and Lambrook, while Danes Hill were the final of the six double group winners, topping Group FF ahead of Felsted and Olchfa.
Under the new guidelines though, the emphasis is on enjoyment over results, and having the Prep Tournament run alongside the U18 Cup certainly did that, providing outstanding enjoyment and inspiration in the form of these older rivals for the young U13s, it was a joy to behold from the touchlines.
HSBC Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s Prep Phase 2 Groups – Final Standings (1-3):
First Phase Winners (Plus best 2nd place):
| AA | BB | CC | DD |
| Taunton | Cheltenham College | St Olave’s, York | Moulsford |
| Bedford | Terrington Hall | Aldro | Millfield |
| Llandovery | King’s Rochester | Dulwich Prep | St Paul’s |
| EE | FF |
| Feltonfleet | Danes Hill |
| King’s Hall | Felsted |
| Lambrook | Olchfa |
2nd Place in First Phase (Plus Top 2 3rd Place):
| GG | HH | II | JJ |
| Cranmore | Downsend | Colston’s | Shrewsbury |
| IAPS Kenya | Cumnor House | Westbourne House | Rokeby |
| Aysgarth | Monkton Prep | Summer Fields | The Downs |
| KK | LL |
| Cumnor House | Caldicott |
| Cundall Manor | Brighton College |
| Packwood Haugh | St John’s-On-The-Hill |
3rd Place in Phase 1:
| MM | NN | OO | PP |
| Worth | Llandaff Cathedral | Ashfold | Bromsgrove |
| Lord Wandsworth College | Barnadiston | Wycliffe College | Sedbergh |
| Hoe Bridge | King’s House | Stonyhurst St Mary’s | Sandroyd |
| Thomas Clapham |
| Sherborne |
| Dragon School |
Last Place in Phase 1:
| RR | SS | TT | UU |
| Terra Nova | Old Buckenham Hall | Oratory Prep | Dean Close |
| Penyrheol | The Chorister | Wetherby | St John’s |
| Merchant Taylors’ | St Martin’s, Ampleforth | Ibstock Place | All Hallows |
| Walhampton |
| VV |
| Horris Hill |
| St John’s Beaumont |
| Prestfelde |
| Newland House |
HSBC Rosslyn Park National Schools 7s Prep Groups – Final Standings (1-4) (68 Teams):
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
| Taunton Prep | Bedford Prep | Llandovery College | Cheltenham College Prep |
| Danes Hill | Cranmore | IAPS Kenya | Aysgarth |
| Caldicott | Brighton College Prep | Worth | Lord Wandsworth College |
| Terra Nova | Penyrheol Comprehensive | Merchant Taylors’ | Old Buckenham Hall |
| Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H |
| King’s Rochester | Terrington Hall | Dulwich Prep | Aldro |
| Cumnor House | Monkton Prep | Downsend | Colston’s |
| Hoe Bridge | Barnadiston Hall | King’s House | Llandaff Cathedral |
| Chorister School | St Martin’s Ampleforth | Wetherby Prep | Ibstock Place |
| Group I | Group J | Group K | Group L |
| St Olave’s York | Millfield Prep | St Paul’s | Moulsford Prep |
| Summer Fields | Wycliffe College Prep | Shrewbury House | Downs Malvern |
| Ashfold | Westbourne House | Stonyhurst St Mary’s | Sandroyd |
| Oratory Prep | All Hallows | Dean Close | St John’s Northwood |
| Group M | Group N | Group O | Group P |
| King’s Hall | Feltonfleet | Lambrook | Olchfa |
| Rokeby | Cumnor House | Packwood Haugh | Cundall Manor |
| Bromsgrove | Sedbergh Prep | Dragon School | Thomas Clapham |
| Walhampton | Prestfelde Prep | Horris Hill | St John’s Beaumont |
| Group Q |
| Felsted |
| St John’s-On-The-Hill |
| Sherborne Prep |
| Newland House |