Hampton School once again played host to its annual rugby sevens competition on Wednesday 27th February. The competition, now in its 23rd year, featured a range of schools from the local area, and was won by Cranleigh School’s first VII.

The tournament was divided into two groups of four, with the top of each group progressing later in the afternoon to the Cup final. The runners up of each group would face off against each other in the Plate final. A parallel competition was also in place for six 2nd sevens sides and the winners of all of these would be taking home silverware. 

The tournament proved to be an exhibition for high-class sevens rugby, and it was the hosts, who would top group 1. Victories against Caterham, RGS High Wycombe and John Fisher, were followed by a final game draw against St Benedict’s to seal their passage through to the Cup final. In the other group it would be Cranleigh that came through with an impressive clean sweep of victories against St John’s Leatherhead, Hurstpierpoint College, St Paul’s Catholic College and Campion. 

Cranleigh came into the Cup final having finished 2nd at the previous three editions of the Founders Day tournament and so were determined to pick up the title this time around. Hampton themselves though had a fine record, with 2017 and 2017 Cup victories to go with their 2018 Plate final victory and so the final was greatly anticipated. 

Hampton surged into a 14-0 lead at half time as the title look to be returning to TW12. However, an unusual interruption took place with the sprinkler system coming on and a change of pitch was forced, much to the delight on the spectators. 

Cranleigh responded better to this unexpected change of venues and wrestled themselves back into the game, before scoring to make the score 24-17 and give them the Cup title.

In the Plate competition St John’s Leatherhead took the crown and in the parallel second VII tournament it was a double heartbreak for Hampton as their 2nd VII were defeated 27-14 by St Paul’s Catholic College. 

Overall, the day was a brilliant success with the tournament marking an important developing point for the season, with the national sevens final at Rosslyn Park in March.