On Wednesday the U18 sevens squad went to their first tournament of the 2016 season. After last season’s national plate success, the team have had to juggle their training time between hockey, football and exams, with a number of the team playing 1st team in a variety of other sports this term. Even so, the team arrived at the Hampton Sevens tournament with a real determination to build on last season’s success.
The squad was drawn in a tough group alongside St Pauls, Tiffin, St Joseph’s and John Fisher. All four sides have a proud history in sevens and
making it out of the group was going to be tough. However, the team played very well in beating St Pauls (19-7), Tiffin (37-0), St Joseph’s (24-7) and John Fisher (24-7). This meant the team had won their group and were through to the final against hosts Hampton. The School has won this tournament twice in five years and there was a real determination to make it three wins in six seasons. In a brutal, but incredibly high standard of rugby, the two sides were 19 points all at the full time whistle. This meant sudden death in extra time and sadly for the squad, they could not quite manage to win, losing after four minutes of extra time.
The team now have a week off before hosting a training tournament alongside RGS Guildford, Gordon’s, Christ’s Hospital and Caterham next Wednesday, 2nd March, at home on Bluetts for the first time!
Andrew Houston
Director of Rugby
