1 April 2022
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KGS U16 VII at the Rosslyn Park National Sevens
Thursday 24 - Friday 25 March 2022
U16s qualify for day 2 and last 24 from 144 teams
The Kirkham U16 made the long awaited trip down to south west London to take part in the world famous Rosslyn Park National Sevens. There was much excitement amongst the KGS boys as they had missed their first chance two years ago due to COVID. This would be the sides’ fourth and final sevens’ tournament of the season, and with a full strength side, the boys were confident they could make it through to the knockout stages.
On day one, Kirkham beat Samuel Whitbread Academy 31-14, drew with Duke of York’s Royal Military School 21-21 and beat Churcher’s College 26-0. The Duke of York’s Royal Military School also won two games and lost one, however Kirkham had the greater point’s difference by 29, so topped their group and qualified for the day one elimination round. In this round, if you lose, you go home and if you win, you qualify for day two. Kirkham faced Magdalen College School and won comfortably 27-7. Harry Reay was the star of day one for Kirkham, scoring a bucket full of tries. James Stacey, Harry Tomlinson, Oliver Greenwood, Ben Firth and Tom Wilkinson all defended well in the backs. While Seb Kelly, Wills Gut, Monty Loggenberg and Jack Chapman shone in the forwards. At the end of day one Kirkham had to say goodbye to Harry Reay due to a family commitment, which was a huge loss to the side. In addition to this, Gut and Kelly had sustained heavy knocks and were not fit enough to play the following morning.
In the knockout group, Kirkham suffered a tough loss to Harrow School and then Bedford Modern School. Kirkham’s effort to qualify for day two had drained a lot of energy out of the boys and they were not quite the same outfit on day two. Luca Mihell, Alexander Cane and Jack Austin really stepped up on day two, contributing well to the whole squad effort. Harrow went on to become champions beating Eton College in the final. The Kirkham players were a credit to their school and they can be proud of their achievement being the first ever Kirkham U16 side to qualify for day two at the Rosslyn Park 7s.