News
Will Wilson writing for www.UR7s.com
In a tournament billed as the first opportunity to weigh up potential for the coveted Rosslyn Park title, the last round of academy league matches sadly took its toll on many of the teams’ abilities to field their strongest lineups. In the glorious sunshine at Portsmouth Grammar School, the depth that is so evident in schoolboy rugby was clear to see. Despite the absence of many of the touted stars of this season’s sevens game, the quality of rugby was still outstanding.
Although only nine teams participated, each were ensured a minimum of four games, with six teams getting a serious run out with five matches. Group A saw defending national champions Millfield up against the well-known quality of St Paul’s CC (London Irish’s AASE academy school), as well what turned out to be very much the surprise package of the tournament in Seaford College. Both the latter teams were to strike an enormous shock in the group stages, as successive dominant, physical performances saw Millfield succumb to bottom of the group. However, this is not to be taken as representative of Millfield’s prospects this year: with six players to return, including Darren Atkins and captain Bailey Ransom, they are sure to come out fighting in defence of their title. Seaford went on to top the group on points difference after a draw against St Paul’s, with a last-minute penalty drifting agonisingly wide.
Group B pitted Wellington against Hartpury College, so famed for its 15-a-side success, against each other in their opening encounter. In what was very much a contrast of styles of sevens play (Wellington looked to play around the bigger, more physical Hartpury seven, whose powerful running caused defences problems all day), Wellington emerged victorious, and despite a scare against Bryanston, topped the group. Hartpury qualified for the cup play-offs in second, leaving Bryanston in the bowl.
Hosts PGS began the day hoping to spring a couple of surprises in Group C; however, successive defeats to a well-drilled Canford team and a combative Epsom outfit. The effort of Epsom has to be commended as many of their team, including captain Archie White and scrum-half Niall Saunders, had played academy rugby the previous day, and yet somehow still had the energy for a full day of sevens! Perhaps this grit inspired the rest of the team, as they went on to top their group, leaving Canford with a tie against Wellington in the cup knockout round.
Hartpury would play Seaford as well, with Epsom facing St Paul’s. Victories for Wellington, Epsom and Hartpury saw them meet in a final pool of three to decide who would win the cup competition. With legs perhaps starting to tire, and after an incredibly confrontational knockout game against Seaford (which may have reminded the spectators of the fifteens season, just with less players), Hartpury were once again beaten by Wellington, with player of the tournament Conor Dolan once again to the fore with some eye-catching handling and footwork in a 26-12 victory.
Hartpury, perhaps stung into action, then proceeded to thrash a tiring Epsom side 33-7, setting up what was effectively a cup final for Wellington. The Berkshire school needed a win or draw, as a loss would have ensured Hartpury, with a superior points difference, would have claimed the title. Win Wellington did, as they never looked overly troubled in a 17-0 scoreline, showing off the full depth of their squad with U16 UR7s academy members Josh Basham and Dylan Moss entering the fray for the second half. Like Millfield, Wellington’s resources were very much stretched, with six players including England internationals Matt Williams and Sam Aspland-Robinson missing; however, the depth of their squad shone through in securing their second trophy. While it may be too early to pass any judgment on earmarking national champions, few could argue, even at this early stage, that Wellington will once again be right in the running.
