Brighton College claimed the annual South Coast 7s title at Portsmouth Grammar School on Sunday.

A week on from a strong showing at the Seaford Southern 10s, Brighton College stepped up another gear with three men fewer at Portsmouth Grammar School, that despite missing their star Harlequins contingent.

The tournament was effectively divided into two sections, the Cup section and the Shield section. Each had two groups of four teams each and see all eight go through to the quarter finals of each of the respective competitions. Losers in the Cup quarter finals would then go to the Plate, while the Shield quarter final losers would go the Bowl.

Cup Groups & Knockouts

Brighton College topped Group A ahead of Royal Hospital School, Canford, and Seaford College, beating all three. The other three all took points off each other in a series of tight games though, with points difference all that could separate them, leaving RHS in second, Canford in third, and Seaford College in fourth.

They would play their reverse counterparts from the other group in the quarter final, so top would play bottom, second v third, and so on. That meant Brighton College would be facing Millfield, who finished bottom of Group B with just a draw against Bishop Wordsworth’s to their name, resources were stretched with a side also in the Shield competition and another at the Shiplake 7s. That was one of two draw for Bishop Wordsworth’s, who would finish second in the group to set up a quarter final with Canford, they also drew with Epsom College, who topped the table to set up their quarter final against Seaford College. Welshmen Whitchurch High School finished in third, they would face Royal Hospital School in the quarters.

Brighton played a cracking quarter final against Millfield, winning 26-19 in the end to set up a semi final with Royal Hospital School, who won a thriller against Whitchurch High, 33-26. On the other side Canford edged out Bishop Wordsworth’s 24-19 to set up a semi final against the only side from Group B to reach the semi finals, Epsom College. They had won a tense game against Seaford College 19-12.

Canford were exceptional in the semi final too, beating Epsom 22-14, while Brighton College had a very similar game against Royal Hospital School as they had in the group stages, winning 17-12, following that 19-14 triumph in the groups.

It all set up a final between Brighton College and Canford, first and third from Group A. Brighton were therefore favourites, but the group game had been just 19-12 in their favour so something close was expected, however it turned out to be a free flowing cracker, with Brighton College securing the title in a thrilling 33-17 display in the final. Capping the triumph off was the award of the Player of the Tournament, too, their own Ethan Dando claiming that particular honour.

Over in the Plate, for the losing Cup quarter finalists, Millfield won a tight semi final against Whitchurch to set up a final against Seaford College, who beat Bishop Wordsworth’s 26-10 in their semi. The final was a close affair, but it was Millfield that claimed the silverware, winning 19-14.

Shield Groups and Knockouts

The Shield saw Gordon’s take the big prize, beating RGS Guildford 30-21 in an exciting final, having beaten Bryanston 36-10 in the semis and Winchester College but an impressive 40-0 margin in the quarter finals, though a word to Winchester in what was their first major 7s tournament – an impressive effort in simply competing through the day.

Gordon’s had topped Group 2 ahead of Bryanston, Wimbledon College, and RGS Guildford, winning against all three, but the rest of the Group had been tight, with all three taking points off each other. KES Southampton had meanwhile won Group 1 ahead of the hosts Portsmouth Grammar, but it was a sign of the strength of Group 2 that in the semi finals three of the four sides were from Group 2, with Portsmouth Grammar the only side to beat one of the Group 2 teams, they edged out Wimbledon College 12-10.

That was the end of the line for PGS though, they lost 12-5 to RGS, while Gordon’s beat Bryanston 36-10. Back in the group stages Gordon’s had beat RGS Guildford 35-7, so it was a measure of just how much RGS had grown through the day that in the final Gordon’s still triumphed but only by 30-21.

Over in the Bowl, for the Shield quarter final loses, Wimbledon College claimed the title, beating Millfield 2^ndVII 21-0 after each had won tight semi finals against KES Southampton and Winchester College respectively.

Champions: Brighton College

Cup Final: Brighton College 33-17 Canford

Semi Finals: Brighton College 17-12 Royal Hospital School, Canford 22-14 Epsom College

Quarter Finals: Brighton College 26-19 Millfield, Royal Hospital School 33-26 Whitchurch High, Canford 24-19 Bishop Wordsworth’s, Epsom College 19-12 Seaford College

Plate Winners: Millfield

Final: Millfield 19-14 Seaford College

Semi Finals: Millfield 31-23 Whitchurch High, Seaford College 26-10 Bishop Wordsworth’s

Shield Winners: Gordon’s

Final: Gordon’s 30-21 RGS Guildford

Semi Finals: Gordon’s 36-10 Bryanston, RGS Guildford 12-5 Portsmouth Grammar

Quarter Finals: RGS Guildford 14-5 KES Southampton, Portsmouth Grammar 12-10 Wimbledon College, Bryanston 48-5 Millfield 2^nd VII, Gordon’s 40-0 Winchester College

Bowl Winners: Wimbledon College

Final: Wimbledon College 21-0 Millfield 2^nd VII

Semi Finals: Wimbledon College 26-19 KES Southampton, Millfield 2^nd VII 29-21 Winchester College

Final Group Standings

Cup Groups

Group A

Group B

Shield Groups

Group 1

Group 2