Saturday 27 March 2010

Millfield finished a successful Sevens season in the rich vein of form that has seen them victorious at Portsmouth, South West, Surrey and now National Sevens. The team arrived at Rosslyn Park full of confidence and ready to retain the title. Led by Henry Thomas, they set about their aims in the first day .

The groups stage was no problem for Millfield, and they turned over all four teams whilst only conceding one solitary try on the first day. The usual suspects performed well, with dangermen Miles Mantella and JJ Kilmartin in particularly devastating form.

Day two saw them drawn against Brighton College in a tough last 16 encounter. Millfield had narrowly defeated the strong Brighton outfit at Surrey Sevens, and this game was expected to be another enthralling match up. The game flowed from end to end, with both teams working tirelessly in defence to keep the other out. In the second half  however, Millfield showed some of the outstanding clinical finishing that has seen them overturn so many teams this season to take the game 21-0. Henry Thomas and Mantella were both on the scoresheet, showing once again their importance to the side.

If the victory over Brighton was narrow, then the quarter final against Old Swinford Hospital was a classly display of finishing from pacy stars Kilmartin and Mantella. Millfield really turned up the heat in their quest for a second successive National title and the tireless work of forwards Ben Mosses and Thomas gave the flyers time to show their class. Mantella scored his first hat rick of the tournament whilst Kilmartin finished with a brace.

The Semi final saw surprise outfit Prince Henrys take on Millfield, in what turned out to be a similar affair to the quarters. Mantella finished with his second hat rick in as many games, and Kilmartin pitched in with the other score. Prince Henrys scored first to spark Millfield into life, and it was once again one way traffic.

Into the final then, and having conceded so few, and scored so many, there were few who would have bet against the strong Millfield side. Filton College were the opponents, and after beating title contenders Sedbergh in the last 16, they were confident of upsetting the favourites.Howver the game never really turned into the tight contest Filton were hoping for, has Millfield strode into a four try lead. Millfield produced , by their own admission, possibly their best performance of the two days. Witrh outstanding defence from James Cromwell and co., they built the perfect platform from which to produce some of the sintilating attacking rugby that they have shown all season. In the first half, Thomas and Kilmartin showed clincal finishing, whilst Ben Mosses ran in a blinder. In the second half, Richard Lane and Dave Lakin both got themselves on the scoresheet, before Filton finally broke Millfield down and scored two themselves before the final whistle.

The Millfield team played outstandingly throughout the two days, and throughly deserved their victory. Strong defence, attack and fitness, along with individual class and a strong team bond served the boys well and it was the perfect way to end a successful season.