11 August 2024
Twenty-eight teams were in action at Glenwood High School in the opening round of the High School Sevens Series, proudly sponsored by Toyota, on Saturday, with 16 sides contesting the u17 competition and 12 competing for the u15 honours.
It was the first of 12 events, which will take place around the country, before the Champions Tournament brings together the best of the best at Grey College in Bloemfontein on 21 and 22 September.
With Glenwood, Northwood, Durban High School (DHS) and Maritzburg College joining the fray for the first time this season, the competition took a step up. Westville, who had won the Clifton Sevens and the Saints Sevens, would be hard-pressed to win again.
The hosts, who had endured a tough 15-man season, were up for the fight, and they bullied their way through Pool A, averaging over 50 points a game while conceding not a single point.
Westville continued on their merry way in pool play, but they were pushed hard by Northwood in Pool B. Both the Griffin and the Knights handily dealt with Hilton College.
DHS finished top of Pool C, but they were given a stern workout by St Charles, winning just 12-5 in the pivotal match in the pool.
It was between Maritzburg College and Michaelhouse for the honours in Pool D, and their matches against the other teams in the group, Pinetown Boys’ High and Northwood 2, delivered similar scorelines. In a tight contest, ‘House edged out College 7-5 to grab top spot.
Westville were given a thorough examination by Glenwood in the semi-finals, but they held on for a 17-12 victory. DHS, meanwhile, blanked Michaelhouse and advanced to the title-decider with a 17-0 win.
In a high intensity Cup final, Westville crossed for two tries in the first half to take a 12-0 lead into the break. DHS turned up the heat in the second stanza and finally broke through their opponent’s tough defence for a try. Westville, though, stood strong and came away with a 12-7 victory.
In 2023, Westville entered the Glenwood Sevens having won the Saints Sevens the previous week. DHS scraped past them in the final, winning 21-19. This time around, the Griffin were the winners.
Vryheid Landbou, after being overrun by DHS in their first match, played some good rugby and came back to secure the Shield, defeating Kearsney 2 in the final.
Clifton College gave Hilton a good game in the Bowl semi-finals, and Michaelhouse 2 saw off Northwood 2. Then, in the final, the ‘House boys snatched a tight 15-12 win.
The Plate semis were extremely hard-fought, with next to nothing separating the teams. Kearsney sneaked by Northwood 17-14 and Maritzburg College got by St Charles by the same scoreline. College then downed Kearsney 19-12 in the final.
For more Glenwood Sevens highlights, visit the Pinnacle Schools YouTube Channel
In the u15 competition, Westville finished top of Pool A on points’ difference after they played to a 12-12 draw with Maritzburg College. Glenwood scored a 15-14 win over Hilton to win Pool B, while Northwood comfortably won Pool C.
Pool D was the tightest of the lot, with each of the three teams – St Charles, DHS and Michaelhouse – winning one match each, but the Horseflies grabbed first place on points’ difference.
Hilton squeezed by Westville in the quarterfinals, winning by just two points, Glenwood beat College 14-7, and DHS battled to an 18-14 win over Kearsney. Northwood, however, won convincingly against Michaelhouse.
Matters were tight in the Cup semis, but Glenwood and Northwood won through to the final. There, Northwood built up a first half lead and held on to win 19-12.
Kearsney captured the Plate, St Charles won the Bowl, and Hilton 2 lifted the Shield.
Westville made a statement by winning their third Sevens tournament on the trot, and DHS showed they will be tough to stop in the events that lie ahead.
Maybe, though, Glenwood, playing at home, made the biggest statement, with their u15s finishing as runners-up, and their 1st VII only just going down to Westville in the semi-finals, after dominating their pool. The Green Machine showed there is plenty of exciting talent moving through their ranks.
The next round of the High School Sevens Series, presented by Toyota, takes place on 16 and 17 August at Hoërskool Pionier in Vryheid, while Grey High School hosts an event on 17 August in Gqeberha. Then, it’s back to Durban for the DHS Sevens, which will be played over two days, on 13 and 24 August.
U17 RESULTS
Pool A
Glenwood 43-0 Clifton
Kearsney 43-0 Hilton 2
Glenwood 68-0 Hilton 2
Kearsney 43-5 Clifton
Glenwood 43-0 Kearsney
Clifton 34-0 Hilton College 2
Pool B
Northwood 37-0 Hilton
Westville 55-0 Kearsney 2
Northwood 47-0 Kearsney 2
Westville 50-7 Hilton
Hilton 47-0 Kearsney 2
Northwood 12-21 Westville
Pool C
DHS 76-7 Vryheid Landbou
St Charles 40-14 Michaelhouse 2
DHS 53-0 Michaelhouse 2
St Charles 26-12 Vryheid Landbou
Vryheid Landbou 22-31 Michaelhouse 2
DHS 12-5 St Charles
Pool D
Maritzburg College 47-0 Pinetown Boys’ High
Michaelhouse 28-7 Northwood 2
Maritzburg College 29-5 Northwood 2
Michaelhouse 43-0 Pinetown Boys’ High
Pinetown Boys’ High 5-31 Northwood 2
Maritzburg College 5-7 Michaelhouse
Shield Semi-finals
Hilton College 2 7-32 Kearsney College 2
Vryheid Landbou 21-7 Pinetown Boys’ High
Bowl Semi-finals
Clifton 14-26 Hilton
Michaelhouse 2 24-6 Northwood 2
Plate Semi-finals
Kearsney 17-14 Northwood
St Charles 14-17 Maritzburg College
Cup Semi-finals
Glenwood 7-12 Westville
DHS 17-0 Michaelhouse
Shield Final
Kearsney 2 10-19 Vryheid Landbou
Bowl Final
Hilton 12-15 Michaelhouse 2
Plate Final
Kearsney 12-19 Maritzburg College
Cup Final
Westville 12-7
U15 RESULTS
Pool A
Westville 38-0 Esikhawini
Maritzburg College 24-7 Esikhawini
Maritzburg College 12-12 Westville
Pool B
Hilton 35-0 Clifton
Glenwood 56-0 Clifton
Glenwood 15-14 Hilton
Pool C
Kearsney 24-0 Hilton 2
Northwood 48-7 Hilton 2
Northwood 26-5 Kearsney
Pool D
Michaelhouse 10-19 St Charles
DHS 41-0 St Charles
DHS 24-26 Michaelhouse
Cup Quarterfinals
Westville 5 -7 Hilton
Glenwood 14-7 Maritzburg College
Northwood 29-0 Michaelhouse
DHS 18-14 Kearsney
Bowl Semi-finals
Esikhawini 26-5 Clifton
Hilton 2 20-26 St Charles
Plate Semi-finals
Westville 26-28 Maritzburg College
Michaelhouse 5-24 Kearsney
Cup Semi-finals
Hilton 10-19 Glenwood
Northwood 17-5 DHS
Shield Final
Clifton 0-44 Hilton 2
Bowl Final
Esikhawini 5-42 St Charles
Plate Final
Maritzburg College 14-24 Kearsney
Cup Final
Glenwood 12-19 Northwood
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