The U18 Vase competition at the Rosslyn Park HSBC National School 7s got off to a cracking start on Wednesday as the sun began to beat down on a glorious day.

The day saw the group stages and the all important elimination round take place, setting up the six quarter final groups for tomorrow, with three teams in each, plus the six Bowl quarter finals groups for the losers of those elimination round games.

The winners of those quarter final pools will then go into two semi final pools of three, with the winners of each semi final pool competing in the U18 Vase final, the Bowl will follow the same format.

Vase Quarter Final Group A will include of one of the tournament favourites, Cheltenham College, who topped group A and then beat Monmouth 28-7 in the elimination round. They are joined by Durham, who topped a tricky Group C that included Bromsgrove before knocking out an impressive Bishop Wordsworth’s side 31-7 in the elimination. Blundell’s, another tournament favourite, complete the group after winning an incredibly tough Group E ahead of Felsted before their 43-0 win over St Paul’s.

The toughness of that Blundell’s/Felsted group was shown by the fact that Felsted are also in the Vase quarters having progressed as a runner up and then beaten Group HH winners Coleg Gwent, 36-5. One side you had to feel sorry for were Wisbech Grammar, who missed out on top spot in their group by a single point of points difference and then just missed out on being one of the best runners up too.

Vase Quarter Final Group B sees New Hall, 33-17 winners over King’s Macclesfield in their eliminator, joined by The Leys and Ysgol Y Preseli. The Leys beat Downside 31-5 while Preseli won a really tight one with Kingswood, 19-17.

Quarter Final Group C sees Epsom College, the Group L winners and one of the tournament favourites, joined by St Peter’s Gloucester and Stowe. Stowe beat RGS Newcastle 29-14 in their eliminator, with St Peter’s 26-12 winners over Gower, while Epsom saw off Oundle by a hugely impressive 45-7 margin.

Over in Group D St Edward’s Oxford will shoot for the semis after their 31-14 win over Berkhamsted. They are joined by a good St Peter’s York side, who topped Pool R before beating Christ College Brecon by a stunning 55-0 margin in the eliminator. King’s Canterbury complete the group, they beat Ampleforth College 33-14 in their eliminator.

Over in Group E KES Stratford, Loughborough Grammar, and Oakham are the contenders. KES came through 21-14 against one of the best runners up, Colston’s, while Loughborough won 31-26 v AKS Arnold and Oakham enjoyed a fine 19-7 win over Eton College.

The aforementioned Felsted secured their place in Quarter Final Group F with that 36-5 win over Coleg Gwent, they are joined by Sir William Borlase’s, 34-12 winners over an impressive Millfield 2^nd VII outfit, an King’s Worcester, who beat Tonbridge 31-7.

It all bodes for a cracking second day of action in the U18 Vase as teams look to succeed St John’s Leatherhead as champions. Whoever does, they are going to have had to work hard for it!

U18 Vase Quarter Final Groups:

U18 Bowl Quarter Final Groups:

U18 Vase Elimination Round Results:

Cheltenham College 28-7 Monmouth

Durham 31-7 Bishop Wordsworth

Blundell’s 43-0 St Paul’s

King’s Macclesfield 17-33 New Hall

Kingswood 17-19 Ysgol Y Preseli

The Leys 31-5 Downside

Epsom College 45-7 Oundle

St Peter’s, Gloucester 26-12 Gower College

Stowe 29-14 RGS Newcastle

St Peter’s, York 55-0 Christ College, Brecon

King’s Canterbury 33-14 Ampleforth College

Berkhamsted 14-31 St Edward’s, Oxford

Oakham 19-7 Eton College

Loughborough GS 31-26 AKS Arnold

King’s Worcester 31-7 Tonbridge

Sir William Borlase 34-12 Millfield 2^nd VII

KES Stratford 21-14 Colston’s

Coleg Gwent 5-36 Felsted

U18 Rosslyn Park HSBC National School 7s Vase Final Group Standings: