SU M M ER 2018
Hampton Sports Chronicle
Rosslyn park sevens heaven Hampton’s 1st VII made up for a challenging season by winning the plate at the prestigious Rosslyn Park National Schools Sevens.
centre of the pitch. A deft exchange of hands between Gwilym Bradley and Charlie Bowe brought Hampton into the 22. Fom the resulting ruck Shane Barry scored to give his team a commanding 19-7 lead.
After a positive first day in which the team won two of three games, against Halliford and Glantaf, they progressed to the Plate quarter-final groups.
Hampton’s defence once again stood resolute, and they were able to deny Hartpury a route back into the game despite a three-on-one opportunity following a superb cover tackle by Shane Barry.
Despite losing to Coleg Sir Gar in the quarter-final group stages, the team did move forward to the semi-final as best runners-up, though to reach the final they would have to face the Welsh side again. This initially seemed to be a challenge, as they trailed 0-14 at half-time, but the deficit was no obstacle for a resilient Hampton side, who set up a plate final clash with Hartpury College. Hampton once again fell behind, this time to an opportunistic quick tap with only a minute on the clock. One could have been forgiven for calling Hampton’s challenge impossible, against a traditional English rugby powerhouse comprising multiple Gloucester Rugby Academy representatives. But Hampton’s plucky team fought back well, eventually forcing a knock-on after two
Aidan Barry breaks through in the Rosslyn Park Sevens Plate Final
minutes of Hartpury pressure inside their 22. Hartpury then found themselves a man short, with the referee opting to send their number 7 to the sin bin after an offence at the ruck. Soon after, Shane Barry was able to score Hampton’s opening try under the posts, with an exquisite ‘turn and go’ to level the scores after six minutes. With the clock dead, Hartpury chose to roll the dice and attempt to run from deep, though Hampton’s numerical
The 1st VII were proving themselves to be perfectly capable at this level, and once more capitalised on poor Hartpury errors, this time travelling the length of the pitch to put the result beyond doubt, with Sam Pointon dotting down over the whitewash.
advantage paid dividends as they stole the ball from the ruck following excellent play by Nick Bitzakidis.
Hartpury were able to bounce back with a try, and it was only more sublimed defending that kept them ahead.
From the resulting penalty Rory Caroll crossed in the corner to take a 12-7 lead into the break.
The 1st VII did have to remain solid in the closing stages, but managed to do so and sealed their 29-12 plate victory with a sumptuous try. Sam Pointon made a lung-busting lengthof-the-pitch effort to send the Hampton supporters into jubilation.
Hartpury’s first mistake of the half came with the kick off, as their kick-off didn’t travel the required distance. Hampton were able to take advantage of this error, with Shane Barry taking a quicktap penalty before his brother, Aidan, made a break through the
Mr Burke on Youth Football Coaching
Mr Cook’s 25 Years of Hampton Cricket
Max Kretzschmar on Life in Football
Louis Lynagh on Playing for England
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The Hampton Sports Chronicle is written and edited by Hampton boys from all year groups. Editor Summer 2018: James Dowden