Sedbergh School claimed the North of England School 7s title on Sunday, showing impressive form to lift the Bowring Trophy at the most prestigious 7s tournament of the season so far.

There are certain tournaments in the calendar that stand out, and the North of England School 7s is one. If the Rosslyn Park HSBC National School 7s is the ultimate in school 7s, then the North of England Schools 7s in the North and the Edwin Doran Surrey School 7s in the South are the two key precursors, the semi finals to the final that is Rosslyn Park, if you will.

To that end, in winning first title here at the North of England School 7s since 2013, Sedbergh laid down a marker – they are in red hot form heading towards Rosslyn Park, and they are going to take some stopping.

The field was loaded, holders Barnard Castle, a seriously strong Denstone College side, a Woodhouse Grove side looking in tip top condition, Kirkham Grammar School, who on Friday reached the Schools Cup final by beating Barnard Castle, and last week’s Christ College Brecon finalists Llandovery College to name but a few.

Watching on were hundreds of supporters and some key figures in the game too, notably RFU President Jeff Blackett, honouring a promise made to friend and schools rugby administration legend Graeme Marrs, who sadly died in 2019.

What he saw on and off the field will surely bring him back again, the rugby was simply outstanding at both Birkenhead Park RFC and St Anselm’s College, the two host venues, while the organisation and welcome despite some huge late challenges presented, by organiser John Horwood was outstanding.

Bright sunshine always helps and it was there in spades throughout the day. A few late drop outs meant a reshuffled draw, eight groups of four teams each now, with the winners heading to the Bowring Trophy quarter finals, second to the Boodles & Dunthorne Salver, and third to the Bowl.

Right from the off those group games were showing us some top performers, at Birkenhead Park Barnard Castle, Kirkham Grammar, and Denstone College were looking formidable, and all three would head to the Trophy quarter finals where the others would join them, with all knockout games taking place at the main venue, Birkenhead Park.

Barnard Castle were up against Stonyhurst in theirs, a game evocative a great games of years past, while Denstone College faced Group C winners Lancaster RGS, meanwhile Kirkham Grammar School had arguably the toughest quarter final of the host as they took on Woodhouse Grove. Sedbergh, meanwhile, faced Welsh legends and their annual opponents Llandovery College – who treasure games against Sedbergh so much that special socks are awarded to those that face them.

Sedbergh put in an epic display in that one, England U18 squad member Ben Redshaw proving electric in a 26-5 victory, and he was to prove utterly brilliant throughout the knockout rounds. It sent them to a semi final against Barnard Castle, who were looking frighteningly good in a 40-17 defeat of Stonyhurst in their quarter final.

On the other side of the draw Denstone College were impressing all around as they put in the performance of the round to defeat Lancaster RGS by a stunning 57-0 margin. Their reward was a semi final against Woodhouse Grove, who had put in a performance full of power, pace, and skill against Kirkham Grammar School for a 22-5 victory.

Into those semi finals and they were two classics. Sedbergh were again outstanding, but they had to be because this Barnard Castle outfit is going to be a real threat through the rest of this 7s season. Sedbergh won it 34-17 but they had to be good, and in defence especially they were outstanding, suffocating their opponents and proving patient beyond belief in their approach. Denstone College and Woodhouse Grove meanwhile went head to head in the game of the knockouts that was an absolute epic. Either side could have won it, the game swung this way and that, but in the end it went the way of Denstone College, 26-21, in a game of titans – both of these could go far in the tournaments to come.

To the final then and a performance of relentless intensity from Sedbergh. Denstone College gave it everything, but Sedbergh were just so patient in defence and so ruthlessly clinical in defence. The one try they conceded in the final came about 90 seconds after it should have, and instead of under the posts it was in the corner, it may not seem like a lot, but that time and that distance made a difference.

In attack they were equally clinical, waiting for a gap and then going 100% for it, with Redshaw again simply electric. It was fitting though that their final try in this sensational 36-5 victory was an intercept in their own 22 after a long defensive set by fly half Will Roue. It said everything about this outstanding team.

Elsewhere there was success for King’s Worcester in the Salver, having finished second in Group D behind Llandovery College, they sealed victories over Wirral Grammar and Austin Friars to set up a final against Hymers College, where an impressive 24-5 victory over the Group C runners up gave them the silverware. 

Over in the Bowl it was Old Swinford Hospital that walked away with the spoils, having also been in Group C alongside LRGS and Hymers. They beat Pocklington and then Malvern College, who were a wonderful group all day, to head into the final against Durham and a fantastic 31-17 victory to claim the spoils.

Win or lose though, it was a wonderful day for all 32 teams, at the premier tournament of the 7s season to date. One only had to look through the list of former winners to understand that, and then to witness the quality on the field simply stepped things up a further notch. 

That quality on the field was reflective of the quality of the tournament as a whole, and in Sedbergh they had a fitting champion. Utterly outstanding from start to finish, the men in brown were, as so often, almost ustoppable.

Champions – Sedbergh

Bowing Trophy Final: Sedbergh 36-5 Denstone College

Semi Finals: Sedbergh 34-17 Barnard Castle, Denstone College 26-21 Woodhouse Grove

Quarter Finals: Sedbergh 26-5 Llandovery College, Barnard Castle 40-17 Stonyhurst, Denstone College 57-0 Lancaster RGS, Woodhouse Grove 22-5 Kirkham Grammar

Salver Final: King’s Worcester 24-5 Hymers College

Semi Finals: King’s Worcester 33-17 Austin Friars, Hymers College 26-5 RGS Newcastle

Quarter Finals: King’s Worcester 39-21 Wirral Grammar, Austin Friars 28-24 Harrogate Grammar, Hymers College 31-14 Queen Ethelburga’s, RGS Newcastle 33-17 Ampleforth College

Bowl Final: Old Swinford Hospital 31-17 Durham

Semi Finals: Old Swinford Hospital 28-12 Malvern College, Durham 26-22 St Anselm’s College

Quarter Finals: Old Swinford Hospital 21-12 Pocklington, Malvern College 31-10 St David’s Llandudno, St Anselms College 28-26 Giggleswick, Durham 31-2 Shrewsbury

Final Group Standings: