Sevens joy for Bradford Grammar School (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Sevens joy for Bradford Grammar School

4:00pm Tuesday 5th March 2013 in Sport By Bill Marshall, T&A Sports Reporter

Bradford Grammar School’s under-15 rugby union team have backed up their successful Daily Mail Schools' Cup run by winning two sevens tournaments.

The first was at Durham School, where they beat the hosts in the final, and the second was held on home soil in glorious sunshine, Bradford Grammar defeating Sedbergh School in the decider.

Hosts Bradford Grammar won Group A, with Durham School beating Ampleforth College in a tight match to qualify as runners-up.

In Group B, Barnard Castle progressed with a set of strong performances, while Yarm School secured second place thanks to a pulsating win against Lymm High School.

Group C was strong, with a number of tight matches between all the teams. Stonyhurst College were section winners after playing some high-quality sevens, with Manchester Grammar School runners-up.

Sedbergh School's defence helped them win Group D, with St Peter's York runners up after a two- point win over Ashville College.

The quarter-finals produced two epic matches, with St Peter's York defeating Stonyhurst College with a last-minute score and Barnard Castle holding on to beat Durham School.

In the semi-finals, Bradford Grammar were pushed hard by St Peter's before breaking away to win, while Sedbergh progressed with a last-play score against Barnard Castle.

Sedbergh went into a 14-0 lead in the final, Bradford Grammar scoring an unconverted try just before half-time.

In the second half, tenacious Bradford defence kept out Sedbergh at one end while they scored three tries at the other to build a 24-14 advantage, Sedbergh showing great character to score a converted try with the last play.

The winning squad was James Pinder (Heaton), Harry Sagar (Pudsey), Issac Greene and Adam Waring (both Ilkley), Alfie Blackhall (Hebden Bridge), David Cobb (Otley), Bradford's Sachin Ahir and James Lord, Will Heard (Guiseley), Matt Bulmer (Bramhope), George Cockcroft (Halifax) and Callum Manchester (Wilsden).

In the plate competition, RGS Lancaster reached the final with victories over Ashville College and Ampleforth College, while Lymm High defeated Wirral Grammar and, in a tight match, RGS Newcastle.

The final was a tight affair, with the lead swapping hands before Lymm High secured the trophy.