The School's Under 15 Rugby 7s team competed in the Kings Worcester tournament recently and returned home victorious.

Accompanied by their Coach, and former 1st team player, Sam Lewis, the team soon got into their stride to dominate each game. For Ellesmere, starting their first 7s tournament as a team, and with only three substitutes available to relieve any pressure for tiring bodies, their warm-up game against Birmingham Solihull B, was a good start to the Tournament, beating them 43-0. 

Their 2nd Pool Game was against Colstons School and again the team showed what they could accomplish together, winning 31 5. Sam Lewis, explained, What we assumed would be our toughest game of the pool stages turned out to be our most dominating performance. Apart from a cheeky dance down the blind side from a scrum in our twenty two by their star scrum half, Ellesmere completely shut out Colstons in every facet of the game. Conditioning standards now showing as players breezed through. Special mention to the forwards who led from the front.

The 3rd Pool Game was against the hosts, Kings Worcester, which they lost 21 29. Sam Lewis commented, The team were annoyed  to lose, but some well earned experience was gained for some of our novices and much needed rest for others as it was clear our bigger tests were still to come.


Following the pool games and a break, the mathematicians came out to announce the standings thus far. Due to an un-usual score between Kings Worcester and Birmingham Solihull B (92-0) Kings managed to get ahead of Ellesmere in the overall Pool A rankings meaning Ellesmere became runners up and would face the winners of Pool B. A match at the time, undecided between Solihull A (favourites) and Old Swinford Hospital.

The Semi Finals were played against Old Swinford Hospital, which Ellesmere won 43 12. With some great tackling, brilliant handling and overall composure, Ellesmere sailed through to the Final, which was to be against Birmingham Solihull. Sam Lewis added, This was by far our toughest test, yet still Ellesmere looked comfortable in the environment and did not panic. Solihull were quick to apply pressure in defence and this told early on as we conceded a try. Straight back into their half where we applied our own pressure and quickly renewed the balance, much to the disappointment of the Solihull supporters. This continued for much of the game as each team battled endlessly for every scrap, however Ellesmeres clear superior fitness was telling as Solihull could not adapt to the mounting pressure Ellesmere was exerting in both the contact area and through pure intensity.

It was the team Captain, Tom Grieves, who finalised proceedings, true to form and as he had done all day, with the drop goal to seal the teams victory. Final score was 21-19.

Picture: Back: Sam Lewis (Coach), Matthew Kinney, Harry Cross, Florian Nordmann, Arthur Suen, Mike Adams
Front: Harry Williams, Robert Leighton, Tom Grieves (Captain), Ben Wynne, Scott Leckie.

14th March 2012  Back to News