Brighton College laid down an early 7s marker on Sunday as they won the South Coast 7s at Portsmouth Grammar School.

It is one of the key early season tournaments on the road to the Rosslyn Park HSBC National School 7s, and had a fittingly strong field, featuring the likes of Wellington College, Dulwich College, Canford, and Millfield.

Last year Brighton College reached the Cup final at Rosslyn Park, and this season they have continued that form in the long form of the game, winning the St Joseph’s Festival.

That success translated across to the 7s field on Sunday, where they topped Group A ahead of the hosts, Portsmouth Grammar, Peter Symonds’ College, and Whitchurch High School.

They followed that up with three stunning knockout results, beating Group B runners up Epsom College 41-0 in the quarter final, followed by a 33-5 semi final win over Champions Trophy winners and Group C toppers, Dulwich College.

They final saw them pitted against the reigning Champions and the Group D winners, Wellington College, who had narrowly beaten Canford in their quarter ahead of a 19-12 semi final win over Group B winners, Denstone College.

Brighton were just as impressive in the final as they had been through the competition though, beating the champions 19-0 to secure the title, and along with it the player of the tournament award to Alfie Beadle.

KCS Wimbledon picked up the Plate, with was contested by the sides losing in the Cup quarters, they beat Canford 14-12 in the final.

Sides finishing the top two from each group had gone to the Cup quarters, leaving sides finishing third and fourth to compete in the Shield quarter finals.

Millfield were the standout side there, they had finished third in Group B behind Denstone College and Epsom College, but went on to win the Shield.

They saw off Welshmen Whitchurch High School 47-19 in the quarter final before a 27-14 win over Group D’s third placed side, Sherborne.

That sent them into the final, where the met Group C’s third placed side, RGS Guildford, who had then knocked out Lord Wandsworth College and Wimbledon College. Millfield crossed the whitewash three times in the final for a 17-7 win and some silverware to take home.

Whitchurch High School lifted the Bowl, for those knocked out at the Shield semi final stage, beating Peter Symonds’ College, who had beaten them in the group stages, 29-21.

The final word must go to Brighton College though, who kick off their 7s season in fine form. This early season silverware ought to fill them with confidence ahead of the tournaments to come, and who knows, perhaps a return to the Rosslyn Park final could be ahead if they keep up this form.

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South Coast 7s Results:

Cup Final

Brighton College 19-0 Wellington College

Semi Finals

Brighton College 33-5 Dulwich College

Wellington College 19-12 Denstone College

Quarter Finals

Brighton College 41-0 Epsom College

Dulwich College 22-14 KCS Wimbledon

Wellington College 14-12 Canford

Denstone College 15-12 Portsmouth Grammar School

Plate Final

KCS Wimbledon 14-12 Canford

Semi Finals

KCS Wimbledon 12-5 Epsom College

Canford 24-5 Portsmouth Grammar School

Shield Final

Millfield 17-7 RGS Guildford

Semi Finals

Millfield 27-14 Sherborne

RGS Guildford 24-17 Wimbledon College

Quarter Finals

Millfield 47-19 Whitchurch High School

Sherborne 24-12 Christ’s Hospital

RGS Guildford 17-7 Lord Wandsworth College

Wimbledon College 14-5 Peter Symonds’ College

Bowl Final

Whitchurch High School 29-21 Peter Symonds’ College

Semi Finals

Whitchurch High School 33-21 Christ’s Hospital

Peter Symonds’ College 38-0 Lord Wandsworth’s College