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The McCallum Scorpions deservedly retained their Church 7s title in the Open Division at Grasshoppers RFC at the weekend, beating the impressive Smurfs 28-12 in the final. The Scorpions had earlier cruised through the Pool Stages playing high-tempo and clinical sevens, putting Camarthan Warriors (40-5), London Visigoths (36-5), and RuckU (47-7) firmly to the sword.

The likes of Kiba Richards, Joe Ajuwa, and Mike Melford gave them the perfect blend of pace and power to help overcome the disappointment of losing out to Bedford at the final of North Walsham the week before. TRU Church took the Open Plate with a 29-7 win over Koru Kamikaze. In the Social Division it was Akuma MTC who eventually got past Ubiqiutous Um Bongo to win the title.

The Smurfs, a predominately Welsh outfit from Gwent, did enough throughout the group stages also going unbeaten including an impressive 24-7 win over a disappointing Jedi, who despite winning at Sunshine never really clicked into gear all day. The Smurfs seemed to be able increase the intensity when required playing a patient brand of sevens aided by Wales World Cup winner Tom Riley. Sweden’s national side (Swedish Vikings) were also in attendance in preparation for the impending FIRA circuit.

They got through a tight game against the Covenan Brothers 5-12 in reaching the quarter-finals. One of the pick of the pool games was Olorun Identity’s crunch fixture with the Samurai Barracudas. The Identity assembled a strong squad including the likes of England Sevens squad member Ollie Frost, his Worcester teammate Tom Wheatcroft, and flyer Martin Freeman, and undid a Barracudas side containing Bevan Armitage and Mark Simpson Daniel 19-7 with the losers having to face the Scorpions in the Quarter-Finals.

Heading into the last 8 it was Ruck U, coached by Will Lowden and Tom Carling, who had kept quiet during the Group stages impressing with their years of experience and nous to overcome a flat Olorun Identity (19-12), with the critical scores coming from French winger Orlando Stott and Charlie Hobart. The Scorpions survived a late Barracudas comeback (26-21) to ease through, with the Swedes looking composed getting past the AKUMA Scorpions 22-10, and the Smurfs completed the semi-final line-up overcoming the spirited Covenen Brothers 20-5.

Ruck U continued their run of form in an edgy semi with the Smurfs and took the lead thanks to Stott again but were eventually seen off by two quick Smurfs scores losing out 20-17. Sweden ran out of steam in their semi against the increasingly confident Scorpions who proved too quick and powerful (32-0).

The Scorpions took the early initiative early in a see-saw final when Martin Freeman, filling in for the injured Tom Jarvis having played for Olorun Identity earlier in the day, snaked through a gap. Back came the Smurfs and some turnover ball gave Cerys Young time to cut past a hapless Freeman to even things up. Back raced the Scorpions after some patient buildup play gave them the lead before Nathan Williams went over to give the Smurfs some parity. The Scorpions got the crucial winning try sneakingly going through the middle from a breakdown to go right under the posts, making it 17-12. Two further tries were added, catching the Smurfs on the break to take the title once more 28-12.

Although many of the team hadn’t played together before they were keen not to let down friend and Scorpions Manager Terry Butler and this seemingly showed in their desire in defense. The Social division proved a tightly contested competition. Evenutal winners Akuma MTC, including Arabian Gulf’s Jonny Macdonald, had lost out in the Pool Stages to the well drilled Otters.

The loss seemed to kick-start their campaign though dispatching The Medlers 44-15 in the last 8 and then turning over a strong RAM Stallions 23-7 to set up a meeting with Bongo which they eventually took 33-12. In the Women’s Competition the Pirates overwhelmed their opponents in the round robins before eventually pipping a talented Henley Hawks 15-5 to take the honours.