Brighton College launch their sevens season by lifting Bryanston Cup

On Sunday afternoon Brighton College played with patience, control and more than a little flair to beat The Kings College, Taunton and lift the Bryanston 7s trophy. The win cements their status as a favourite for the Nationals taking place in late March.

Having cruised through their first three matches they won a sequence of tight games against some of the strongest sides in the country: Sherborne School, Truro School, SGS Filton and Kings College, Taunton. The win over SGS Filton was particularly impressive and the Sussex School should be immensely proud of their achievement.

SGS Filton had won Group A at a canter before facing the hosts Bryanston School in the quarter-final. They gave SGS a stern test before going down 19-12. Bryanston had battled through a ferocious Group C to make the quarters, beating eventual finalists Kings Taunton but losing to Marlborough College.

In Group B Wellington College triumphed over Truro School on point’s difference after the pair could not be separated in their group match. Both sides would be knocked out by the eventual finalists as Wellington College fell to Kings Taunton in the semi-final and Truro were beaten by Brighton in the quarter-final. In Group D only Sherborne gave Brighton a real test and they went on to make the quarter-finals where they were eliminated by Wellington College.

In the Plate many expected Marlborough College to triumph having been very unlucky not to make the Cup. They won their quarter-final against a Millfield VII before losing a thriller to Portsmouth Grammar 26-21 in the semi. On the other side of the draw Bicton College, after a very slow start saw them lose their first three matches, suddenly came to life to beat Taunton School 22-17 and then really hit their stride to beat Canford School 29-0. They nearly went all the way but Portsmouth Grammar dug deep to win by 24-19 in a match that wouldn’t have looked out of place had it have been the cup final.

Many of the Schools were playing in their first Sevens tournament of the year but the standard was very high and it’s exciting to think what can be achieved by some of these sides as fitness improves and they click further into sevens mode.

Bryanston 7s Microsite