News
This Sunday the 7s Season continues with the Marches in Hereford. Of the 32 Schools taking part 11 are Welsh ensuring some passionate cross border competition. Indeed last year it was Coleg sir Gar that won the Cup beating Millfield in the final, whilst Monmouth School won the Plate beating Adams Grammar School. Coleg sir Gar will be many people’s favourites this year but they will face some stiff competition. 3 times winners Millfield will be looking to improve on a quarter-final exit last weekend to Ellesmere College. You can never right off the Somerset School. The King’s School Worcester will travel in great spirits after a brilliant performance saw them win the Christ College Sevens on Sunday. They beat Llandovery College in the final who will also be a team to look out for here. We will also get our first look at Sir Thomas Riches at the Marches who have had a brilliant XVs season. Here are our thoughts on the groups:
Group A
Bristol Grammar School had a tough start to the season and at one point had as many as 10 squad players out with injury. They finished the season strongly with a win over local rivals Clifton College and they have a tournament under their belt this season and will look to improve on that. Hereford Cathedral School, the hosts, have had a tough year and will be hoping to find some form on the 7s Circuit as they build towards the Nationals. They had a mixed showing at Christ College with a good win over Ysgol Glantaf but the loss in the final game to Radyr Comprehensive saw them go out. Solihull have had a good season and whilst they have lost a few games they have all been to quality opposition. They have won 16 matches including comprehensive wins over St Peters Gloucester and John Cleveland College. This will be our first look at their sevens squad. Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni take part in their first Marches and it will be interesting to see how the Welsh school competes.
Predicted Group Winners: Solihull School
Group B
Cheltenham College have had a tough year winning only 4 from 11. They fared quite well at Christ College last weekend, beating Blundell’s and Bro Morgannwg before going down to Bryanston. King Edwards Bath will look to improve on last year when they struggled in the groups but are more experienced this year and should fare better. The Kings School Worcester are favourites for this group (and maybe the competition) and will play with the confidence of a side that already has 7s silverware safely in the cabinet this year. They will need to avoid complacency early on as only the winners of the group go through to the cup. Wycliffe College might be unknown quantities but only a narrow loss to Millfield knocked them out of the Cup last year and they went on to make the plate semi-final.
Predicted Group Winners: The King’s School Worcester
Group C
3 times winners Millfield last took the cup home in 2006 and will be looking to improve on their quarter-final finish in the Christ College 7s on Sunday. They are sending a squad to the Bryanston 7s and the Marches on Sunday which shows their strength in depth. Both sides will be competitive but the side taking the field here will be the 1st VII. Last year they lost in the final to Coleg sir Gar by a try and will be hoping to go one better. Plymouth have won 13 and lost 4 this year and will be a big challenge for the Somerset School. In 2010 they went as far as the cup semi-final and will be dangerous here. Should they lose to Millfield in the group they will be many people’s favourites to lift the Plate. Rydal Penrhos are always competitive but went down this year heavily to Wirral Grammar and Kings Macclesfield in the longer version of the game. They will be looking to avenge a narrow loss to Plymouth in the group last year. Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf are another side that has had a mixed season with a good win over Ysgol Gyfun Bro Morgannwg but a loss to Christ College on their record. They will be competitive in the group and are always exciting to watch.
Predicted Group Winners: Millfield School
Group D
Colstons, Bowl winners last year, play one of the toughest fixture lists in the country and will be battle hardened. Joining them in Group D is Hartpury College. They have beaten Millfield in XV-a-side this season and are a powerful running side. Llandovery College went agonisingly close to winning the Christ College 7s last weekend and that should spur them on this weekend. They play with control and are a physical sevens side, but have pace to burn. Their match against Hartpury should be the pick of the group. Malvern had a good win over King Edwards Bath this season and will hope to find that form again.
Predicted Group Winners: Llandovery College
Group E
In 2010 Christ College lost the Cup final to fellow group members Barnard Castle so they have history here. Barnard Castle have had a good year and have plenty of Marches 7s pedigree. In 2010 they beat Millfield on their way to winning the cup and last year won the group but were beaten by SGS Filton in the quarter-final. Sir Thomas Rich’s have had a great season and it will be exciting to see how they shape up at 7s. Shrewsbury School have had a mixed start to their XV a side season that starts in January. They will look to improve on last year when they went out at the group stage.
Predicted Group Winners: Sir Thomas Rich’s
Group F
3 time winners Coleg sir Gar look likely favourites this year. Winners the last two years you would have to be brave to back anyone but the Welsh College. They have three backs in the Wales U18 squad and will be very dangerous. Monmouth have had a good season and after a great start at Christ College with a win over Ellesmere they eventually lost in the Quarter-Finals to Wellington School. It was a shock result and should spur the boys on here. The match against Coleg will be tough but they could go onto win the plate. They will face stiff competition from another Welsh School, Llanhari, and that match should be a cracker. Worth School will be no pushovers and went as far as the last 16 of the Nationals last year.
Predicted Group Winners: Coleg sir Gar
Group G
SGS Filton only lost three 7s games in total last season, and two of those were to Coleg sir Gar. Whilst the squad attending this year will be the 2nd VII the quality and depth of rugby talent they have at their disposal means they will be very hard to beat. RGS Worcester will give them a stern test and whilst they had a mixed XV a side season they play a tough fixture list. Ysgol Gyfun Bro Morgannwg will be looking to improve on their performance at Christ College where they didn’t win a game. They did well at the Marches last year only narrowly losing to Plate winners Monmouth. Also in Group G is Hereford Cathedral School 2nd VII who will provide spirited competition.
Predicted Group Winners: SGS Filton
Group H
Group H will see a fiery Welsh derby between Bridgend College and Gower College Swansea. Both are making their first appearance at the Marches. Bridgend have a good win over Bicton College this year but have lost to Llandovery and Sir Thomas Riches and will not be complacent. Dean Close found the competition tough last year but are well coached and had a solid XV-a-side season. Old Swinford Hospital made the Plate semi last year and got off to a solid start at Christ College. Whilst they were knocked out of the last 16 by the hosts they played well in the groups and were only beaten by Millfield. This will be a tight group with the winning team perhaps not having a 100% record.
Predicted Group Winners: Gower College Swansea
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