20 August 2023
Glenwood played host to a feast of Sevens Rugby on Saturday, with the hosts, Northwood, DHS, Kearsney College, Westville Boys’ High and Maritzburg College battling it out for the honours at the under-17 and under-15 levels.
For the first time this season, it was an opportunity to see Northwood and Maritzburg College in action, which added a nice dash of spice to the competition. Sevens is a pretty major adjustment from the challenges posed by the 15-man game, but both schools performed admirably, with Northwood pushing DHS hard in the under-17 semi-finals before bowing out at the second last hurdle.
Pinnacle Schools – YouTube – Click the YouTube link to catch the highlights of your favourite team at the Glenwood Sevens.
Under-17 competition
Early on in the under-17 competition, Westville caught the eye. They opened with an impressively controlled 26-10 victory over DHS and continued through their pool matches with authority. As matters panned out, they faced the Horseflies again in the final.
With the title on the line, the Griffins, for the first time all day, it seemed, made a number of unforced errors and DHS seized upon them to stake a claim to the title. In the end, they won 21-19 as Westville’s miscues came back to haunt them.
Top dogs
Still, Westville captured the under-15 honours in no uncertain terms, defeating DHS 31-12 in that final. They look dialled in at all age groups, displaying excellent structure and reading of the game, and they will take some stopping, especially as they have some individual standouts in their ranks, too.
However, DHS, who made their season’s Sevens bow last week at the Saint Charles Sevens, will play themselves into even better form as the season continues. The entertaining running rugby they play in the 15-man game translates well to Sevens and they will surely be a force to be reckoned with.
Everyone in with a chance
Of course, none of the other schools should be discounted. As an example, Northwood went down just 5-14 to DHS in the semi-finals, and it was their very first tournament. Then, as a further example, one has to consider a school like Saint Charles College, who have shone in every single event they’ve contested this season.
It is the nature of Sevens that any team can fall to any other team on a given day. And that, along with the flowing, skilful, fast-paced action of the game makes it unpredictable and exciting. Watch this space…
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