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COWBRIDGE Comprehensive remain on track to mark the 75th anniversary of the Rosslyn Park HSBC National Schools Sevens in style after knocking out reigning Junior champions Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield, on day one.
Last year saw QEGS lift their second Junior tournament trophy in ten years when they beat Warwick School 21-19. But they were denied the chance of making it a hat-trick of wins at the world’s largest Sevens tournament as Cowbridge stormed back to win their last 16-clash 26-24 on Monday.
And after booking a place in Tuesday’s quarter-finals against Gloucestershire’s Dean Close School – 26-17 winners against Royal Grammar School Newcastle – Ben Jones, one of the team's stars, believes they can go all the way.
“It’s brilliant, especially going down to such an amount at half-time, we showed great team spirit to win the game in the last minute,” said the 13-year-old.
“They threw a lot of pressure on us, and they had a lot of strength in their squad but we had been playing amazingly well going into that match.
“We had never played a team like that before but it’s great to come through.
“We have been told to get to bed early, no TV, eat all the right things because in essence tomorrow is our big day. Hopefully we can go another step further.”
Another team to watch out for tomorrow will be Crypt Grammar School who notched up 44 points without reply against Kirkham Grammar School to set up a quarter-final clash against Royal Hospital School, 29-0 winners over Bristol Grammar School.
They will be joined by Wimbledon College, Christ’s Hospital, John Fisher School and Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe after all four won their final knock-out match of the day.
And it was not just the Junior sides in action on day one of the week-long tournament, which will see 7,500 boys and girls aged 13-18 from 600 teams take to the field.
The Preparatory Schools competition also got up and running with seven-time champions Millfield School laying down a mark of intent.
Scoring 107 points from their three group stage wins, the team then went on to knock out Lambrook School 39-5 to also book their quarter-final spot on Tuesday.
Millfield captain Stuart Rushmere said: “We played very well throughout the group, dominated against the teams we were up against and we are looking forward to the quarter-finals.
“We came up against some tough schools but we worked as a team. We know we are most dangerous when we get the ball out wide.
“Hopefully we can go all the way and win the competition. We missed out last year and we’re determined not to miss out again.”
Millfield were not the only high scorers with 12 other teams breaking the 100 point mark to progress out of their respective groups, although defending champions Aysgarth School fell short, finishing third in group A.
Joining Millfield for tomorrow’s action, which also sees the Colts competition begin, will be Caldicott Preparatory School, St Martin’s Ampleforth, Moulsford Preparatory School, Danes Hill School, Dulwich Prep London, Shrewsbury House and Bromsgrove.
– HSBC is proud to sponsor the world’s largest schools rugby tournament. All HSBC’s rugby sponsorships aim to help develop and grow the sport and ensure even more youngsters get involved with rugby. For more information visit www.rpns7.co.uk and http://n7.schoolssports.com
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