Hurstpierpoint College sensationally won the first big school 7s tournament of the season on Sunday, the Seaford 7s.
The South Eastern side beat the reigning Champions Bedford 24-12 in the final, in a competition that included some of the most impressive sides of the fifteen-a-side season.
En route to the final, Hurstpierpoint had topped Group D ahead of Emanuel, New Hall, and the Champions Trophy winners, Dulwich College, before beating one of the most impressive sides of 2017/18 in the semi final, Haileybury, 24-14.
Bedford, meanwhile, had topped Group A before a 10-5 semi final win over last year’s Schools Cup finalists, Bishop Wordsworth’s.
Bishop Wordsworth’s then went on to beat Haileybury in the Plate final/3rd place play-off to end the day win a played 5, won 4, lost 1 record.
Those finishing second in the groups had gone into the Shield competition, which was won by Dulwich College, who finished second to Hurstpierpoint in Group D. Dulwich beat Group B runners up Portsmouth Grammar in the semi final, before a 24-12 win over Seaford College in the Shield final after the hosts’ 7-5 semi final win over Epsom College, who then beat Portsmouth 35-5 in the Bowl final.
New Hall won the Trophy competition, for those finishing in third in the group stages. They beat St Benedict’s by an impressive 19-0 margin in the final, having beaten Langley 31-17 in the semi final.
Langley were then beaten in the thrilling 11th /12th final 36-34 by Reading Blue Coat, who had lost 21-17 to St Benedict’s in the Trophy semi.
Those that finished in last played in the Vase competition, which was won by Merchant Taylors’ after a 34-0 win over Churcher’s College and a 24-7 win over Emanuel in the semi final.
The final word must go to the sensational Hurstpierpoint College though. That the two teams finishing behind them in the group both won their tournaments shows just what a tough route they had to the final, and how impressive it was to win.
In Haileybury and Bedford they then beat two giants, two sides that will be competing for titles throughout the 7s. In this victory, Hurstpierpoint have highlighted themselves as a team to keep an eye on throughout the 7s season and on the road to the Rosslyn Park HSBC National School 7s.
Seaford College 7s – Sunday 28th January
Champions – Hurstpierpoint College
Cup
Cup Final
Hurstpierpoint College 24-12 Bedford
Plate Final
Bishop Wordsworth’s 33-0 Haileybury
Semi Finals
Hurstpierpoint College 24-14 Haileybury
Bedford 10-5 Bishop Wordworth’s
Shield
Shield Final
Dulwich College 24-12 Seaford College
Bowl Final
Epsom College 35-5 Portsmouth GS
Semi Finals
Dulwich College 24-19 Portsmouth GS
Seaford College 7-5 Epsom College
Trophy
Trophy Final
New Hall 19-0 St Benedict’s
11th/12th Final
Reading Blue Coat 36-34 Langley
Semi Finals
New Hall 31-17 Langley
St Benedict’s 21-17 Reading Blue Coat
Vase
Vase Final
Merchant Taylors’ 34-0 Churcher’s College
15th/16th Final
Emanuel – w/o
Semi Finals
Merchant Taylors’ 24-7 Emanuel
Churcher’s College 36-0 Ardingly College
Final Group Standings:
Pos | Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
1 | Bishop Wordsworth’s | Haileybury | Bedford | Hurstpierpoint College |
2 | Seaford College | Portsmouth Grammar | Epsom College | Dulwich College |
3 | St Benedict’s | Langley | Reading Blue Coat | New Hall |
4 | Churcher’s College | Merchant Taylors’ | Ardingly College | Emanuel |
Leave a Response