Sevens' Team Wins Second Major Tournament

Following their win at the Christ Church, Brecons Sevens Tournament, the Under 18 Sevens squad recently travelled to Birkenhead to compete in North England Sevens competition. The squad were in high spirits after the previous weeks triumph and determined to bring back the Cup from the North of England Sevens Tournament which they achieved to do.

Ellesmere had been drawn against Rossall School, Yarm School, St Anselms School and Stonyhurst College in the first round of the group stages. For their first match they enjoyed a walkover buy due to Rossall Schools late attendance. Ellesmere were then quickly put into action against Yarm School, which they went onto to comfortably win 45 -19. Ellesmeres next opponents were St Anselm School and the squad remained untested as they cruised to a 53.0 win. The final game of the pool stage was against a successful Stonyhurst College team.  However, the Ellesmere team were able to bring the same form that was on display at Brecon the previous week and the game resulted in a 51-0 win with Ellesmere College progressing through to the knockout stages of the competition where they would meet their rivals, Sedbergh School.

In recent years Sedburgh have always provided a difficult challenge to Ellesmere but on this day they were out played, out matched and out classed. The game was a tight affair and began with Ellesmere scoring 2 early tries, 1 of which was converted. However, Ellesmere let slip and allowed the reigning champions to score 2 converted tries to put them in front by 2 points. The team remained calm and determined and went on to keep the ball for long periods of time sticking to the original game plan. With 2 minutes left until the final whistle, Ellesmere struck again with a well crafted try which resulted in Ellesmere winning the match 17 - 14.

The Semi Final saw a different kind of test to the Ellesmere Squad. This time the opposition was Hymers College, past winners and regular runners-up of the North of England tournament.  The Ellesmere squad were now full of confidence and started the match in stylish fashion by throwing the ball around well to score 2 tries in quick succession making the score 12 - 0. However, after the half-time interval Hymers College increased the pressure and managed an unconverted try. This Semi Final saw the Ellesmere team come under enormous pressure as several poor refereeing decisions led to the Ellesmere players being penalised a number of times and Iwan Phillips yellow carded. Until this match the Ellesmere team had an impeccable discipline record but now faced a new challenge. However, the boys dug in and worked hard for each other and managed to earn a place in the Final.

The Ellesmere squad had now been given the opportunity to make a small piece of school history by being one of the elite group of Rugby Sevens teams to win two trophies from consecutive tournaments. Bromsgrove School were the other finalists as they had beaten  Kings Worcester, but the Ellesmere team remained un-phased by the threat posed. After having only been involved in a final the previous weekend, the Ellesmere team knew what had to be done. Ellesmere began the game by kicking to Bromsgrove and managing to retain possession through the athleticism of Jack Baxter. This led to them keeping the ball and stretching Bromsgrove from one side of the pitch to the other, allowing William Goodwin to score under the posts. Adam King was able to cross the white wash through sheer power and pace by beating his opposite wing and the covering defence. Once again Iwan Phillipss restart was able to help Ellesmere retrieve possession which the team looked so reluctant to hand over as they kept the ball for long periods of time. This led to Adams second try as he was able to come off his wing and target the gaps in a tired looking defence to score under the posts. After an Ellesmere error Bromsgrove found themselves with the ball and managed to batter their way through to score making the score 17-5. After half time Ellesmere looked by far the fitter team and Bromsgrove, who had been chasing shadows for most of the first half, were unable to contain Will Goodwin who crossed the try line after picking the ball up from a ruck. Bromsgrove, who always provide a tough encounter, kept the ball for a lot of the second half, testing the Ellesmere defence led by Tom King and George Baxter. Together they proved to be an effective  black and white wall, giving no ground while Bryn Phillips issued orders to the team keeping the opposition pinned back in their own half.

A game of sevens was won but history was made. Final score Ellesmere 24. Bromsgrove 5.

Alex Murphy, Rugby Coach, commented, Once again our talented band of brothers have done well. We have now become the team to beat. All the work that the lads have spent on the training field with Paul Goodwin really is paying off. We have now set our sights on a treble by winning another tournament.

9th March 2011  Back to News