Winners of the West Norfolk RFC U15s Sevens Tournament

GROUP GAMES:
Southwold 33 - 12 West Norfolk
Southwold 24 - 12 Ipswich
Southwold 36 - 7 Stowmarket

SEMI-FINAL
Southwold 55 - 0 Fakenham

FINAL
Southwold 24 - 14 West Norfolk

After careful consideration and soul searching we selected our final 10 players for the competition. After a very early start and a two hour journey we had to get warmed-up an in the right state of mind to play opening match against the hosts, West Norfolk. We played West Norfolk throughout the Minis, but this was our first meet since then - they have grown! From the outset West Norfolk played 15s rugby while we settled quickly in to Sevens. So as long as our defence stood firm, we were abled to fling it around and eventually the gaps opened and we managed five tries to their two. First game under our belt.

Then came our old adversaries, Ipswich. They were missing some key players but nevertheless still fielded some talent. once again we kept our shape and ran in four tries. Unfortunately Stato (Mark Alred) wasn't with us so we have no record of who scored, but i am pretty sure that the nine tries in the opening two were shared out evenly.

Next up Stowmarket, who had bought a development team and so were unlikely to hinder our progress to the finals. But a complacent attitude and lack of organisation lead to a lapse of focus and the first try to Stowmarket. This wake-up call was all the boys needed to start putting some great Sevens phases together and running in six more tries. These included some classic "Fiji Swivels", "pull-outs" and "pockets" (ask the boys!)and the patient build-ups.

The semi final was against Fakenham who we have never played before. The emphatic victory was simply a reflection of possession and, following the Stowmarket game, now really getting the hang of the style of rugby needed. I believe Billy and Evan both scored a couple each. There were also two chip-throughs, which is unusual in Sevens and fortunately both worked!

Inevitably we met West Norfolk again in the final. Subsequent matches since their first match and this was clearly going to be a big game. The match was ultimately decided by discipline. We not only continued to play sevens rugby and refused to be distracted by some feisty provocation. There was some sublime attacking rugby and really gutsy defence. The end result was four tries to two and one yellow card to them. Job done and no injuries.

It would be grossly unfair to single out one player to be Man of the Match/Tournament as all ten boys played with such commitment and because they played as a team.

Well done boys, thoroughly deserved silverware.