News
Reports by Ben Mason (Durham School)
Sunday 1st March saw the first of this season’s Durham School seven’s tournaments. Hosted at Durham School was the U15 Archer sevens, named after England legend and old boy Garath Archer. The U18 Bain sevens was hosted by Newcastle Falcons after long standing Durham School supporter Adrian Bain.
U18s
The Durham School Bain 7s was as big as it has ever been this year with 20 sides travelling to participate. With a number of big hitters in the competition anything could happen, especially in some challenging conditions. Four groups of five saw the top two teams qualify for the plate and cup competition respectively.
There were some close games in the group stages with Bradford Grammar School, Sedbergh, Kirkham Grammar School and Merchiston Castle all qualifying top in the groups. RGS, Newcastle, Pocklington, Hymers College and Woodhouse Grove, went through as runners up into the plate.
The semi-finals and finals were played on the Falcons 1st team pitch at Kingston Park which was a fantastic opportunity for the players and made perfect conditions for great sevens rugby. With two excellent finals, Woodhouse Grove beat RGS, Newcastle 22 – 19 to claim the plate. The cup final saw Sedbergh beat Kirkham 19 - 12 in the second cup final between the two sides already this term having also won two weeks ago at Ampleforth College.
Sedbergh are currently leading the U18 section of the Super Sevens, the results of which can be followed at www.schoolssports.com. The Super Sevens series was created two years ago and features the North East HMC Independent schools. The result from each schools U14, U15, U16 and U18 sevens sides at every Super Sevens tournament are collated to produce an end of season champion at each age group but also an overall Super Sevens champion school. The overall championship was won in 2013 by Durham School and in 2014 by Sedbergh School. Currently, the age groups competition leads are as follows:
U18: Sedbergh lead after two tournaments
U16: St Peter’s, York lead after one tournament
U15: Durham School lead after three tournaments
U14: RGS, Newcastle lead after two tournaments
A huge thank you to Gilbert on behalf of the HMC North East, for their two year sponsorship of the Super Sevens Series.
Sedbergh School: Winners of the Durham School U18 Cup
U15s
The Durham School U15 Archer sevens saw 12 schools travel to Durham for what was a very competitive tournament. Durham School continue their undefeated sevens run having won 9 competitions without a single loss since the start of their sevens campaign last season.
Durham School: Winners of the Durham School U15 Cup
After beating Egglescliffe and Barnard Castle in respective semi-finals, the cup competition saw yet another final between Durham and Sedbergh. With the usual suspects of Max Weightman (Capt.), Harry Jackson, Rob Millbank and Cameron Keanurico putting in some excellent performances, Durham again secured victory winning 34 – 19.
The plate final saw Bradford Grammar School beat Woodhouse Grove in the Yorkshire derby.
