U12s share Surrey Sevens title with strong performance

By Joe Cornell

Hampton Under 12 rugby team finished their season in style with an excellent performance at the Surrey Sevens, playing some glorious rugby throughout the day.

Hampton won two and drew one of their games, and ran out joint winners in the end – RGS Guildford had a better points difference but Hampton played one fewer game.

Hampton started the day somewhat slowly, recording a good comeback to beat KCS Wimbledon 15-10. In their second match, Hampton again started slowly but won the game 20-10 after a hatful of Tom Harvey tries.

Against Rutlish in the third match, Hampton played some sensational rugby with many players scoring in a 30-0 win. Even though George Abbott School had a much taller team, Hampton defended strongly and also scored some excellent tries in a 25-10 win.

Esher High did not turn up to the tournament so Hampton had one fewer game. Even though they did not receive a walk over score, Hampton qualified unbeaten after a morning of good rugby.

The afternoon games were played in a round robin format with the first game against Caterham School, who Hampton had beaten convincingly early in the season. Here Hampton started strongly and quickly went two tries up before putting together a mammoth defensive effort to win the match 10-5.

The next game, against Trinity School, was a close fought encounter, with both teams playing some lovely rugby before Hampton emerged deserved 10-0 winners. In the next game, against John Fisher, Hampton scored a well-worked try by Will Skinner early on and then defended valiantly until the last play of the game, when John Fisher’s tallest player raced in to score in the corner.

This was the end of a spectacular season for Hampton U12s, winning the Warwick Sevens, Ibstock Sevens, Middlesex 12s and joint winners of the Surrey Sevens. This team has a bright future.