U15 Boys' Rugby Win Essex Schools 7s Tournament
U15 Boys' Rugby Win Essex Schools 7s Tournament
On Tuesday 10 March, the U15s travelled to Westcliff RFC to take part in the Essex Schools 7s Tournament. The boys knew this would be a challenging competition. Last year, as U14s, they narrowly lost to Campion in the final, and with Campion and Woodlands School having shared the title several times in recent years, the standard was expected to be high. The squad arrived focused and determined to go one step further this time and bring the trophy home.
We were placed in a strong pool alongside Robert Clack, FitzWimarc, Westcliff and Campion. Our opening match was against Westcliff, and the boys were keen to set the tone for the day. A combination of strong defence and quick handling saw them control the game and secure a convincing win without conceding a try.
Our next match was against FitzWimarc, who had several large and physical players. We started the game a little slowly but soon found our rhythm, moving the ball well and using the space effectively to pull away and secure another good victory.
The third match was against Robert Clack and followed a similar pattern to the opening two games. The boys played with confidence and discipline, which allowed us to rotate players and try a few different combinations ahead of the knockout stages.
Our final pool match was against Campion. We started strongly and looked in control early on, carrying the ball well and creating opportunities. However, Campion responded well and we eventually fell short, losing 14–7. This meant we would face Woodlands in the semi-final, who had topped their pool with some impressive performances.
The boys had played Woodlands before and had also seen them perform well at the Saints 7s Tournament, where they won the Plate. We knew they would be a physical side with strong, powerful runners. The boys were given a clear game plan: put Woodlands under immediate pressure, deny them time on the ball and force errors. The team executed this superbly. Our defence was outstanding, and we capitalised on their mistakes while producing some of the best handling of the day. The result was an excellent 19–5 victory and a place in the final.
Campion won their semi-final, setting up a repeat of last year’s final. Having already beaten us in the pool stages, they came into the match with a psychological edge. However, the boys produced their best performance of the tournament. Their handling was outstanding, support play was excellent and the defensive effort was superb. A special mention must go to Ty M, who scored all three tries in the final as the boys secured a fantastic 21–12 victory to beat Campion and win the tournament.
It was a superb effort from the entire squad and a well-deserved reward for their hard work and determination throughout the day. On Friday we head to the Perse Floodlit 7s, where the boys will be looking to build on these strong performances.
Well done to the squad of:
- Alex A
- Eymen A
- James B
- George D
- Oscar G
- Rory H
- Harry H
- Tylan M
- Sami M
- Buddy O
- Austin S
- Austin W
