YOUNG rugby players took to the hallowed turf where the game was created 200 years ago for the Warwickshire U14 Sevens Rugby Festival.
As part of Rugby School’s ongoing celebrations of the bicentenary of the sport, 14 teams came together at The Close and showcased some future stars of the game.
Teams from Old Northam, Fosse Falcons, Stoke Park, Reading, Barker Butts, Edwardians, Lutterworth, and Mansfield contested the girls’ tournament.
The boys were represented by Queen Mary’s, North Warks, Stoke Park, Bishop Vesey’s, Higham Lane, and South Warks.
The girls’ final saw Reading take on Mansfield, with Mansfield kicking off the scoring with a converted try within the first three minutes. Despite some great tackling from Reading, Mansfield went on to score just before half time, taking the score to 12-0.
A pace-filled second half culminated in an unsuccessful last ditch attempt by Reading to deny Mansfield of a clean sheet, ensuring Mansfield’s 24-0 victory.
Boys champions Bishop Vesey. Picture by Nick Browning www.nickbimages.com
The boys’ final came down to Queen Mary’s against Bishop Vesey RFC, teams who had already faced each other during the season and had one win apiece.
Bishop Vesey scored the first try, and quickly followed up with another try that was successfully converted. A penalty try meant Bishop Vesey went into half time 19 points to nil ahead.
An eventful second half which included another penalty try saw the Bishop Vesey team win 24 points to 19.
At Rugby School over the Easter weekend, U9s play on Friday (April 7), U11s on Saturday (April 8), and then a full set of Vets games from across the region takes place on Easter Monday. All are welcome.
