In the Colts tournament at the Rosslyn Park HSBC National School 7s on Wednesday 160 sides were whittled down to just 16 by the end of the day.

The day started with 32 groups of five teams each and ended with a round of 32 contested by the winners of those initial groups. Tomorrow the sides head to the last 16 round, with each side now just four games away from becoming the national 7s champions.

Reigning champions Sedbergh made it through unscathed, they finished top of Pool A after a cracking game against Uppingham before beating Group B winners Llandovery College 26-5 in their last 32 tie.

Sedbergh will now face Colston’s in the last 16 after Colston’s finished top of Pool C followed by a fantastic 19-10 win over Hampton, who had come through an initial Group D that was seriously tough, containing Eton, The Oratory, Malvern College, and St Edward’s.

Below them Epsom College, who were brilliant in topping Group E before their thrilling 19-12 last 32 victory over Group F’s Cheltenham College, will play St Peter’s York, who topped Group G before beating Durham 24-21 in a superb last 32 game.

Sticking with the top half of the draw, Dulwich College won Group I before beating Group H’s Merchant Taylors’ 26-7 in the last 32. They now head to the last 16 where Uffculme are their opponents after heading up Group J and then winning a close one in the last 32, 24-21 v Lord Wandsworth College.

The winner of that last 16 tie will face the winner of Bedford v Langley in the quarter finals. Bedford progressed with a brilliant 31-28 win over Blundell’s in the last 32, arguably the game of the day, Blundell’s had come through the most stunningly challenging group L that contained two of the favourites, Wimbledon College and Brighton College. Ultimately it was a case perhaps of too many superb sides all tiring each other out. However Bedford now surely have to be considered among the favourites for the tournament.

Langley, meanwhile, had beaten Berhamsted 28-21 in the last 32, another fantastic game in what was proving to be a thrilling round.

Over in the bottom half of the draw Hurstpierpoint College made it through to the last 16 after knocking out one of the favourites, Wellington College, in a superb 26-14 victory having already topped a tricky Group Q. They face King’s Worcester after the U18 Schools Bowl champions defeated Langley Park 12-7 in their last 32 game.

Bromsgrove will be chasing a second trophy of the week tomorrow, their U16 side made it through to the last 16 after topping Group V before securing a stunning 45-7 victory over King’s Macclesfield in the last 32. They will face their old rivals Warwick, who topped Group T before then beating Hinchley wood 28-10 in the last 32.

In the second half of the bottom half of this last 16 draw Millfield look dangerous, they beat a very good Dean Close side 29-10 in the last 32 after heading up Group Y. Their reward is a tie against another legend of the competition, Barnard Castle, who beat Taunton School, who looked excellent at times today, 29-5 in their last 32 game.

A side to look out for though are Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf, the Welshmen have gone slightly under the radar but they have real form in this tournament at U13 and U14 levels in recent years. They reached the last 16 after topping Group DD and then beating a highly rated Whitgift side 29-7 in the last 32.

Their last 16 opponents are a very good Clifton College side though, who beat Woodhouse Grove 26-17 having first headed up a tricky pool FF earlier in the day.

Overall it looks like being a cracking four rounds of Colts matches on Thursday, particularly given how outstanding even the group games were on Wednesday, so many going right down to the wire.

The last 32 saw some big names and firm favourites go out, setting us up for an absolutely superb round of last 16 to kick off the Colts tournament again on Thursday!

Colts Fixtures/Results:

Colts Last 16 Fixtures (Ordered):

Sedbergh v Colston’s

Epsom College v St Peter’s, York

Dulwich College v Uffculme

Bedford v Langley

Hurspierpoint College v King’s Worcester

Warwick v Bromsgrove

Millfield v Barnard Castle

Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf v Clifton College

Colts Last 32 Results:

Sedbergh 26-5 Llandovery College

Colston’s 19-10 Hampton

Epsom College 19-12 Cheltenham College

St Peter’s, York 24-21 Durham

Merchant Taylors’ 7-26 Dulwich College

Uffculme 24-21 Lord Wandsworth College

Blundell’s 28-31 Bedford

Langley 28-21 Berkhamsted

Wellington College 14-26 Hurstpierpoint College

Langley Park 7-12 King’s Worcester

Warwick 28-10 Hinchley Wood

Bromsgrove 45-7 King’s Macclesfield

Millfield 29-10 Dean Close

Barnard Castle 29-5 Taunton School

Whitgift 7-29 Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf

Woodhouse Grove 17-26 Clifton College

Colts Groups – Final Standings: