Sevens season kicks off

Plate Winners: Young Gulls (pic: Gareth John)

AS the rugby season came to a close, it was time for the speedsters to dust off their boots as the rugby sevens season kicked off at the 30th annual Newport 7s on Sunday, May 24.

With 6 teams entered, the sides were split into two groups of 3, with Group A including Daionic Crusaders, Cardigan Exiles and hosts Newport and Group B included defending champions Carmarthen Warriors, Fishguard RFC’s Young Gulls and Preseli Ba Ba’s.

The tournament kicked off in very wet weather and it was the Daionic Crusaders who topped Group A winning 5 out of 5 group games. The Preseli Ba Ba’s topped group B, after winning 4 out of 5 games, losing once to the Young Gulls but going through as the top placed side on try count.

The next round saw the Daionic Crusaders beat the Carmarthen Warriors, the Preseli Ba Ba’s beat Newport and the Young Gulls beat Cardigan Exlies.

This, after some complicated mathematics meant the Daionic Crusaders would meet the Preseli Ba Ba’s in the Cup final and the Young Gulls would face off against the Cardigan Exlies in the Plate final.

The Plate final was the curtain raiser to the Cup final, and the Young Gulls stormed off into an early lead and ever looked like losing, winning the Plate by five tries to Cardigan Exiles’ one. The Young Gulls walked away with £150 for winning the Plate.

The Cup final had £500 prize money on offer, and it was the Ba Ba’s who made the stronger start under the sunshine which had broken through the clouds. The Crusaders were not dampened though, and fought their way back as the final result was 4 – all, resulting in sudden death.

To complete their fantastic comeback, the Daionic Crusaders scored the first points during sudden death, meaning they lifted the cup and walked away with £500.

Crusaders’ player Dafydd Williams received £100 for being named player of the tournament, and all sides went on to celebrate a successful day of running rugby.

Group A: