Epsom College claimed the spoils at the Hiscox Reigate Charity 7s on Sunday, beating Brighton College in the final.

The Champions Trophy finalists also made it a double triumph at Reigate Grammar School’s flagship tournaments as their girls side stormed to the Girls title in utterly dominant fashion.

The Boys side were pretty close to being just as dominant, progressing through their group ahead of Caterham, City of London Freemen’s, and Maidstone Grammar before going on for a stunning assault on the knockout stages.

The weather was simply horrific as the day progressed, a howling wind, sideways rain, and pitches that would before ever more sticky as the day wore on (not, incidentally, Reigate Grammar School’s fault – simply a sign of the conditions). The argument for a shift to summer 7s seeming ever more appropriate, particularly given that this was one of many tournaments forced to cancel last year due to the snow.

Regardless of the conditions though, Epsom College marched on through a knockout phase that would leave most sides quaking in their boots. First up were Wellington College in the quarter finals, followed by Whitgift in the semi finals, and Brighton College in the final, three of the finest in schools rugby.

Incredibly Epsom beat them all without so much as conceding a point. As the weather really closed in through the final they really showed their class. Brighton had the wind at their backs in the first half yet despite this Epsom held onto the ball for the vast majority of the seven minutes, scoring all of their three tries in the game into the face of that howling wind.

As if to illustrate the point in the second half, Brighton had much of the ball but could not escape their own half as Epsom pinned them in. Eventually Brighton succumbed, opting to put boot to ball. Up it went and then, like an over-eager boomerang, back it came as the wind caught it and rejected it.

Over in the Plate Hampton took the title, beating Wimbledon College in the final after what had been a really intense Plate competition. The Shield, meanwhile, was won by Felsted, while in the Bowl Reading Blue Coat secured the silverware, beating Berkhamsted in the final after Berkhamsted had been part of a strange and unpredictable Group H, with Wisbech Grammar, Reed’s, and Sutton Valence all impressing.

Meanwhile in the Girls competitions it was Epsom taking Cup victory there too, disappointing the hosts in the final as they beat Reigate Grammar 31-0. Wisbech Grammar, meanwhile, won the Plate, capping a good day across both tournaments, while Oundle won the Shield.

Ultimately though the day was about Epsom College, their performances in really tough conditions earning them plenty of plaudits and deserved silverware after they had previously reached the final at the Seaford 7s. There was some consolation for Brighton College though, Henry Dunford deservedly being named Kukri Player of the Tournament.

Reigate 7s Silverware:

Cup – Epsom College

Plate – Hampton

Shield – Felsted

Bowl – Reading Blue Coat

Girls Cup – Epsom College

Girls Plate – Wisbech Grammar

Girls Shield – Oundle