Exeter shine in Rugby Sevens competitions
Devon Sevens and Wellington U16 Plate Competition
On Sunday 30 January, the Under 16s (right) took part in the Wellington Sevens’ Tournament. Once the ground had defrosted they played five matches. After being knocked out of the cup competition by a strong Millfield team, they progressed into the plate competition, where they beat West Buckland and Queen’s Taunton to win the plate.
On a cold and wet afternoon on Wednesday 3rd February Exeter School, victors in the recent Rugby Fifteens County Championship, sent its best players to West Buckland School to contend the Devon Sevens title against twelve of the top school teams in the region.
Exeter School started their campaign with big victories against both Torquay Boys Grammar and St Boniface without conceding a point. Blundell’s were next in line and proved to be a very competitive encounter with some superb cover defence from James Collett, ensuring a close win 7-5.
As the team moved on to play the hosts West Buckland confidence was high, which resulted in a slight loss of focus with West Buckland taking the lead early on. Captain Charlie Taverner and Vice-Captain Danny Barnes were sent on to bring order, and the team came through with a narrow win 19-12. The whole squad enjoyed a final pool match versus Trinity, with Sam Brook scoring his first ever try for the School to seal the game.
This placed Exeter first in their pool and set up a semi-final encounter with Shebbear College. Once again, the whole squad were given game time and were eventual winners 35-0, with many younger players including Alec Wheatley, Will Harvey, Rory Augstburger and Chris Needs showing they are certainly players for the future.
A final against Blundell’s, who had seen off the other pool winners Plymouth College, was clearly something to relish. All of the Year 13 players for this match, bar Ewan Harvey who was outstanding throughout the tournament, finished what was a gruelling encounter. The strength of props Jamie Rose and Dominic McLennan provided clean ball early on to allow Paddy Shaw to show his pace and clever footwork and score out wide. James Collett followed this up demonstrating blistering speed to score in the opposite corner. After half-time Blundell’s used the slope to run hard at Exeter downhill, but their defence was impressive and the score at final whistle was 12-0 to Exeter.
Exeter School coach Guy Willson commented: “This has been a memorable double for the team, being County Fifteens and Sevens champions in the same season”.
The Squad: Charlie Taverner, Danny Barnes, Jamie Rose, Dominic McLennan, Paddy Shaw, Ewan Harvey, James Collett, Sam Brook, Alec Wheatley, Will Harvey, Chris Needs, Rory Augstburger.
