RUGBY ROUND-UP: John Fisher School‘s senior rugby squad faces a daunting morning today, as the National Schools 7s go into a second day at Rosslyn Park, kicking off at 11am with a game against Rydal Penrhos.
The schools 7s season just before Easter has grown in importance in the past decade, and the Rosslyn Park 7s has grown in global importance, with more than 100 schools from across Britain, and the world, starting the exhausting Open tournament yesterday.
With age group events having been held all week, the playing fields on Wimbledon Common were already well churned up before the start of play yesterday, making the going heavy even for the swiftest of teenagers in a game where speed is always at a premium.
Fisher progressing into the second day’s knock-out stage is a real breakthrough – especially when you consider that mighty Millfield, the world-renowned sports school from Somerset, were dumped out of the competition despite scoring more than 100 points in their four matches.
Also progressing to the knock-out stages with Fisher are Daily Mail Cup semi-finallists Hampton and Croydon rivals Whitgift – who also go through, like Fisher, unbeaten.
Fisher’s results yesterday were: 33-10 v Wisbech Grammar School; 42-15 v The King’s School, Ely; 53-5 v Farnborough Sixth Form College; 19-15 v Coleg Llandrillo Cymru.
Despite being only Plate runners-up in last week’s Surrey Sevens at Richmond RFC, the Fisher team took to the field with confidence. But after three victories, the crunch game was the final one against a top Welsh team who were also unbeaten.
After a good night’s rest, the final 24 of the competition presents a massive challenge to the Fisher squad.
Whitgift’s second day starts against Solihull School at 11am.
THERE were no local club first XV matches played last week. The one scheduled fixture, Purley-John Fisher’s game in hand in London 3SE against Bognor, was scrapped when the south coast side cried off on the morning of the game, unable to raise a front row and a full side.
George III’s final words were, supposedly, “Bugger, Bognor”, but as far as the rugger men from PJF were concerned, they were quite glad of the week off. “It gives us another week to rest and recover before our next games,” they said.
It saw PJF awarded a five-point win – including a bonus point – for the walkover, to keep them in the promotion hunt over the final matches of the season.
Tomorrow, Warlingham travel to Brighton in London 2SW.
In London 3SE, PJF are due to host the Isle of Wighters, Sandown and Shanklin, while Old Mid-Whitgiftians travel to Old Blues.
In Surrey 1, lowly Croydon are at home against Old Cranleighians; Old Whitgiftians face a tough game at Jonny Wilkinson’s first club, Farnham; and Old Walcountians are at Old Wimbledonians.
In Surrey 2, Streatham-Croydon are at home against Old Rutlishians.
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