The U16s began their 7s season with a journey up to Stowe where last year the school were beaten Plate finalists. This year with a team full of attacking guile and defensive solidity anything was possible. First however was the prospect of a tough group stage with the likes of Bromsgrove, whose U18s are in the Natwest Cup final and also Wellington. The group started with a comprehensive 26-0 dismantling of a large Bromsgrove team that later composed themselves to draw with Wellington. Next were Ayelsbury who initially didn’t put up to much of a fight, but stuck in till the end and pressured the boys in the second half despite a comfortable 38-17 win. Wellington followed and a 14-7 win ensured the BWS boys would be crowned group winners regardless of the final games result. The last game against Shrewsbury gave opportunity for the boys that hadn’t started or had much game time to have a run outand despite a dogged fight back in the seond half we lost 10-12. The delight from the Shrewsbury camp highlighted our position at this tournament as they were over joyed at defeating us, despite the group already being settled prior to this.

Into the Cup quarters we went as first placed in our group with the likes of Stowe and Millfield, but first was Abingdon, a tough outfit determined to turn us over, especially as we had knocked them out at previous years tournaments. The boys did the job though and went through 14-10, this set up a Cup semi-final against old foes Millfield who until this tournament were unbeaten this season in 7s. The boys started strongly, going over the line and converting before squandering a couple of other golden chances that Millfield managed to defend excellently. Millfields ruthless began to show as they ran in three answered converted tries before we clawed one back. With tails up in look for a draw and extra time we set off for kick off before the ref blew the whistle and ended the contest. The boys did a great job and left the tournament with nothing left in the tank, they had stepped up defeating some of the best in the business and again laid a marker down for their 7s season and those to follow. Top 4 at Stowe is no mean feat, but these boys have the potential to go further and I look forward to HCS and Rosslyn with them.

RDG