• • Facebook
  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • Technorati
  • Reddit
  • Stumble Upon
  • Furl

The National Schools Sevens came to an end yesterday with the culmination of the prestigious Open tournament and the final stages of the Girls' competition.

The Open took on a familiar look about it with Millfield still standing tall at the end of the day after defeating unbeaten Kirkham in the final. The Girls' tournament had a less common feel about it though, with the semi-finals being made up by an English side, two Welsh teams and a school from......Romania....

The girls from Pascani, Romania had travelled 1517 miles to compete in the National Schools 7s and had qualified for the 2nd day with some great rugby on Thursday, including a victory in the International Challenge Match against Shuswap from Canada. In the quarter finals yesterday the girls threw down the marker to the more traditional powerhouses of defending champions, Colstons, and Neath Port Talbot with a victory over a Yeovil side who were blown away by the Romanians physicality in the breakdown and tackle situation. Once ball was guaranteed, the girls had some flyers on the wing who were dangerous from anywhere on the pitch.

By this point the Pascani girls were no longer a surprise package as word spread like wild fire that there could be a continental European champion for the first time in any division. They were joined in the semi-finals by Colstons, Neath and another Welsh side Gwyr. It must be said the all four sides had a physicality about them that was not lost on the boys in the Open tournament or any of the spectators on the side line, as the semi-finals were bruising affairs.

Pascani took on Neath and it was a game too far for the valiant Romanians, though, as the experience of the Welsh girls saw them through to the final in a 17-7 victory. Defeated Pascani will be remembered at the National Schools Sevens for many years to come. Neath were joined in the final by Colstons. The Bristol team went in as favourites, with many of the victorious team from last year returning to the tournament.

It was not to be back-to-back titles for Colstons, though, as they were blown away by the team from Neath 17-0. Colstons were never aloud into the game by their opponents and, with their imposing style not so effective, the Welsh team picked them off scoring three well worked tries to take the title, to great applause from a large traveling crowd.

In the Men's Open championship, there seemed to be three stand-out favourites; Kirkham, Millfield and Welsh school Coleg Sir Gar.

All three schools had dominant quarter final wins with Coleg beating the Tony Roques-coached Ivybridge, Millfield defeating Whitchurch and Kirkham beating a valiant, but in the end outclassed, Henley College. The semi-final line up was completed by Colstons, but it has to be said that the school from Bristol always looked like it was going to be bridesmaid to the other three.

Kirkham got the lucky draw, facing Colstons in the semi-final with their Irish International Under-18 Scrum half taking control of the game early, leaving Colstons always playing catch up. Kirkham, lacking any lightning speed out wide, showed why they have been so successful this season, with four tournament victories in the lead up to NS7s, through defensive discipline and the ability to move the ball with real intelligence following the turn over. The Northern Schools 7s champions ran out 24-19 winners, with Colstons scoring late on.

In the second semi-final Millfield faced the school that they defeated last week in the Surrey 7s semi-final but had lost to only the week before that, so it was anyones game. Milfield had got better and better as the competition went on and in tight game the Somerset school were always in control. Coleg were not downheartened, however, and fought to the end to make Millfield work hard for the 19-12 win.

After a day of expectation with agents on the sideline watching for future talent, as well as former internationals Roques, Gommarsall and Abbott, the final was upon us bringing the curtain down on NS7s for another year.....

For all of Kirkhams discipline, structure and intelligence they were facing a school that could match them and have something extra in out and out speed. In all forms of rugby, but especialliy 7s, 'speed kills' and this was no different.

Millfield came out of the blocks with an early score and immediately won the re-start. Kirkham just could not get the ball and, although the northern school's defense was working hard, Millfield were prepared to be patient and wait for the holes to appear. Appear they did. Millfield scored three tries in either half against a tiring defense and, while the heads never dropped, Kirkham were blown away as many teams have been in the past.

The final score was 36-0 to Millfield. The margin does not do Kirkham justice for how well they had played throughout the tournament, but it certainly stamped an authority on the tournament of the 7s juggarnaut that is Millfield. Head of Rugby at Millfield and former England prop, John Mallett, was not known for his sevens prowess as a player but in a coaching capacity must be doing something very right.

Millfield yesterday also won the Colts tournament. While some perhaps would like to have seen a new name on the trophy, no one can deny the quality of rugby that was required and produced to win both competitions in what is an increasingly competitive event.

In its 70th year, the largest 7s tournament in the world once again proved that its a special event and players will remember their days at NS7s for the rest of their lives, win or lose. Whilst winners have a famliar look about them, with Wellington College & Millfield victorious in the premier events, it is the schools from India and Romania that have left the biggest impact on the visitors to the tournament, and quite possible the tournament on them.

'for everything 7s'