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MILLFIELD CLOSE 75TH ANNIVERSARY ROSSLYN PARK HSBC NATIONAL SCHOOLS SEVENS WITH OPEN VICTORY

28 Mar 2014


John Fisher, Open runners-up 2014

Millfield School added another trophy to their glittering history in the Rosslyn Park HSBC National Schools Sevens after clinching the Open title to bring the competition to a close for another year.

The tournament was marking its 75th anniversary and Millfield have certainly had a major role to play down the years – first winning the Open in 1966.

And the class of 2014 proved to be one of their strongest sides yet, securing the school’s 13th Open title in style with a 27-12 victory over John Fisher School.

Both teams will now have the opportunity to replay the final in front of a Twickenham crowd at the ninth and final round of the HSBC Sevens World Series in May.

But for star Millfield full-back Tom Whiteley, earning the bragging rights at the world’s largest Sevens tournament is a big enough reward on its own.

“I look forward to this every year and I keep coming back because I love it so much,” said the 18-year-old.

“The whole country is at one tournament and we have won it which shows that we are the best. We’ve won five out of five and haven’t lost a game all season.

“This is my last game for Millfield and we’ve been working all year for this – all the hard work has paid off.” 

There was just as much excitement in the Open Plate as Woodhouse Grove avenged last year’s overall final defeat at the hands of Sedbergh by 24-21 – with just a dramatic last-second penalty separating the two sides.

And in the Girls’ AASE Colleges competition, Hartpury College were runaway winners for the second year running after inflicting a 55-0 defeat on first-time entrants Bishop Burton College.

“They put up a good fight but we just stuck to what we know and kept playing our Sevens,” said Hartpury skipper Abbie Brown.

“It is great for all of the girls to come here and leave with a winning medal. I have really enjoyed my time here this year and I know all of us are thinking the same.”

Meanwhile the Girls Tournament final was a much tighter affair with Clyst Vale Community College sneaking the win by 15-12 over Yeovil College.

There was no shortage of rugby celebrities on the final day, with London Wasps’ Tom Varndell – who presented the trophies – and London Irish wing Marland Yarde just some of the attendees.

Varndell played in the tournament for Colston’s School as a youngster and he admits he was eager to come down and make his own impact on the nation’s rising stars.

“It is really important for players to come down here so that these young players can chat to us and learn from us,” he said.

“I have been really impressed with what I have seen and the standard has been top class.

“I played down here when I was younger so I have real fond memories of the Rosslyn Park Sevens, even though we lost in the final.”

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