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The 38th Carrick Sevens, held at Woodlawn over the Bank Holiday weekend, proved once again a great success at one of Ireland’s best loved rugby parties.

There was the usual international flavour with nine teams from England, five from Scotland and one from Wales.

Cats take Colts

The weekend began on the evening of Friday 30 April with the Kukri Under-20s Tournament. This was won by The Big Cats, a BRA side,  who overcame holders Surrey Colts in a tense final.

Although leading by three tries to one at half-time, the Cats were overhauled after half-time when the Colts ran in three unanswered tries before the BRA side hit back with two tries in the last two minutes.

The Cats beat Carrick Grammar School based side, The Wrecking Boys, in the semi-final, running in seven unanswered tries, while Surrey Colts overcame Malone by four tries to one. The Plate final was won by Scottish visitors, Athletico Telford,who beat a talented Larne side in the final.

Academy prosper at Guinness Sevens

The Guinness Sevens on Saturday 1 May was played in front of probably the biggest crowd yet for this Tournament. The event was played in the knock-out format introduced last year, with teams beaten in the first round of the Holmes Trophy competition moving unto the Plate or the Bowl competitions.

After a scare on the way against Down Exiles, Academy were also made to work hard by the The Islanders in their semi-final, eventually winning by three tries to two.

In the other semi-final the Tyrone Marauders (Dungannon/Ulster Academy) beat 2009 finalists Mighty Peth by four tries to one.

The final was a very close affair, with Academy going into a three tries to one lead after half-time only to be overtaken as the Marauders ran in three tries of their own.

As had their younger colleagues the evening before, Academy finally secured the Holmes Salver trophy with two late tries. The Newsletter Player of the Tournament award went to Jamie Scott of Academy.

The Willis Plate final was won by Surrey Colts to cap another successful week-end for the South-East of England side. They beat Ulster Exiles in the final.

Ulster based Cobras win on Sunday

Sunday’s main Manvik AIL 7s was won by Kukri King Cobras, comprised of Ulster based players, who beat another local "composite" side, Autobots, by five tries to two in the final.

The Newsletter Player of the Year award went to Conor Gaston of King Cobras. Beaten semi-finalists Carrick President's and Ards contested the Plate final, with the Carrick side running out winners by seven tries to three. Deviants beat Belfast Harlequins in the Bowl final.

Cooke Ladies win again

The Abbey Ladies 10s competition produced a much closer contest than in recent years with Cooke's dominance almost being ended by the Wooden Spoon Lionesses (mainly English and Welsh players). Having lost to them in the Group stages, Cooke produced a great second half performance in the final, to win by seven points to five.

As a result of excellent performances in both the semi-final and final, Cooke's Liza Downey won the Newsletter Player of the Tournament award.

The beaten semi-finalists contested the Plate final with Welsh visitors Pontyclun Falcons beating City of Derry. The Bowl was won by OA Albans who beat Enniskillen in the final.