It was a successful day of Sevens Rugby for both our U16s and U18s when they played in the Oakham Sevens tournament on Sunday 3 March.
Our U18s ended the day victorious, reinforcing their dominance in this prestigious tournament having won the title in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017, only losing to Wellington College in 2018. However, while it was a great triumph for the boys to regain the title, it was not plain sailing.
They were placed in a highly competitive group that included Denstone College, Stamford and Uppingham, and a slow start to the first half in their first game meant they suffered a narrow defeat.
However, from that point they did not look back. Their next two wins, against a very physical Denstone College and a well organised Uppingham, meant they won the group on points and advanced into the main cup competition. They played some outstanding sevens in the quarter final against Rugby School, and this form continued in the semi against Norwich School. Next on to the final against the King’s School Macclesfield. The seven put in a committed defensive display (as they had done throughout the tournament) to stifle the opposition’s attacking threat and worked hard to create and finish opportunities of their own, taking a 15-7 victory to claim their fifth Oakham Sevens title in six tournaments.
The U16s played solid rugby to see them through their group by beating Royal Hospital School, St Edward’s Oxford, Leicester Grammar and Loughborough Grammar. They played some superb sevens to edge out Oakham in the quarter final but were knocked out by a very strong Bromsgrove team in the semi-final.