JP Morgan Sevens Rugby Tournament – Final Round Report

The final of this year’s tournament was hosted at the Twickenham Stoop home of Harlequins, and after three qualifying rounds the best six teams played out the finals Group one consisted of Sale Sharks, London Saracens and Bath. Group two featured Harlequins, London Wasps and Newcastle Falcons. Going into the JP Morgan Sevens’ final round Saracens had been everyone’s hot favourite to retain the title for another year but with some quality young talent forming the backbone of the other teams the contest proved to be wide open.The opening game of the rugby tournament pitied hosts Harlequins against Wasps, Luke Wallace scored the first try with a little show and go from Chris York, the second try was made from Ross Chisholm’s right side step and ensuing break. The game was wrapped up early in the second half when Charlie Walker slipped an inside ball through to Sam Smith. 19 – 0 and impressive as the Quin’s had been in their try execution the Wasps proved the opposite with a poor display in front of the whitewash when chances arose.Game two was all about the London Saracens vs. Bath with the first try being scored by Jackson Wray after a neat offload by Will Fraser. Jean Baptiste Bruzuliar had a barnstorming game picking up the second try after spotting a gap on the blindside of the ruck; Bruzuliar had an excellent game securing all 50/50 balls at the breakdown. The third Sarries try was courtesy of a double side step from Watson, followed quickly by a fourth from James Short with an easy hand off near the line. Saracens fifth try came from no 7 Bruzuliar the star man in game with a great kick and chase from in his own half. Fraser picked up a second try and late consolation from Bath saw the Saracens win 38 – 7.London Wasps vs. Newcastle Falcons made up game three, both big teams who take the ball aggressively up the middle. Try number one came from a quick touch and go from Luke Fielden, followed by great hands again for his second soon after. Fielden the quickest winger on show proved dangerous in this attacking position his low centre of gravity made him hard to tackle and it wasn’t long till he was in again for the hat trick, out wide down the wing. After some composed play Chris Pilgrim chipped in with the fourth try and he turned provider for Joel Hodgson who went over for the fifth. Pilgrim grabbed a brace with the Falcons sixth try and Burton got a consolation for Wasps but the Falcons ran out 38 -7 winners nonetheless.Saracens secured there place in the final with 21-5 victory over Sale Sharks in game four, James Short going over for the first Saracens try followed quickly by speedster Marcus Watson getting the second. Sale Sharks drew the score line through Hamish Bales closer but a sin binning for Sale Sharks stunted there charge and James Short went over for the killer third try. Harlequins vs. Newcastle Falcons came down as the decider as to who got to face Saracens in the final and it was the hosts who made the early gains racing into a 12 point lead. But a neat offload by Hodgson to Tait just before HT made it 12-6 at the break and all to play for. Then a loose ball at the ruck was seized on by Chudley of all people to nip in for the match leveller! With the clock ticking down and a lack of penetration on show by Harlequins a mistake at the death aloud Luke Fielden to race clear and seal the win 17-12. Newcastle Falcons against Saracens in the final again for the second year running. Bath vs. Sale Sharks was the final group match finishing 28 - 12 to Bath.The final pitted the favourites Saracens against the outsiders Newcastle Falcons, hoping to cause an upset and go one better than last year and exact revenge in the final. The first period of the match was dominated by the Falcons with some quick defence that really had Saracens pegged back into their own half and not surprisingly it wasn’t long until Redford Pennycock powered over the line, swiftly followed by an Alex Tait try, another result of the Falcons solid defence. However Saracens hit back with three unanswered tries the fist from number ten James short after a lovely break down the left, stepping through two Newcastle players on the way. Tries then followed by Ben Ransom sixty seconds before half time down the left and just after the break Marcus Watson gave Saracens a 21-14 lead after committing the Falcons defence with a mazy run. A close game was fitting for the tournament’s final and late on in the game Newcastle Falcons hit their stride, scoring the winning late tries. The first from Luke Fielden (the player of the round) seizing on chip through into space created from the Saracens wing stepping in. Two more excellent team tries followed the first from Tait and then Pilgrim to give the Newcastle Falcons and unexpected but deserved 31-21 victory!The tournament proved yet again to be a great pre season event for spectators and players, sharpening the players before the season kicks off. The JP Sevens’ are great for allowing some of the younger players to show supporters what they are all about!
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