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

Samurai International walked away with the major International Invitational honours at the inaugural Manchester 7s at the weekend.

Comprised of strong squad that included the likes of Kiwi 7s stars Edwin Cocker and Chad Shepherd and the talented Philip Tuigamala, the squad went unbeaten over the two days, eventually overcoming an extremely strong Marauders side in the final.

The evergreen Howard Graham was as always running the show and in Craig Hill and Ifan Evans the Marauders had 2 members of the Wales World Cup winning team to call upon.

With the sides tied up at 17-17 it was a slick blindside pass from Shepherd to Chris Brightwell allowed the latter to power over to take the title.

The winners were forced to battle for the majority of the day overcoming Sale Sharks in the last four thanks to an inspired Cocker.

They were also down for the majority of the Quarter-Final against an inspired Akuma Scorpians with again Brightwell the saviour touching down, emphasising the never-say- die attitude that Samurai showed all weekend.

It was an all Continental European affair in the Invitational Plate competition with the much fancied Les Bleus side losing out to SLB Rugby Benfica, Portugal’s oldest club, 21-12.

The Invitational competition was just one of five trophies battled out for at Macclesfield RFC on what proved a successful weekend for the organisers.

In the Northern Cup it was the home side the Maccesfield Barbarians who beat off the challenges of the very talented old boys from Kirkham Grammer School 17-12, whilst the Hurricanes proved too much for the Sea Hawk Islanders 24-12.

In the RAF Ladies it Rugby Ecosse beating the Pirates 21-5 in their finale, with Ronin Howards proving just too good for a valiant Glantaff Goats (26-21) in the Kit Team Cup.